Alabama lands 4-star DE Khalid Kareem out of Michigan’s backyard

Written by Ryan Wright

All the posturing and back-and-forth between Alabama head coach Nick Saban and Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh over satellite camps had a mini dramatic conclusion on Wednesday with the Crimson Tide landing defensive end Khalid Kareem, a 4-star out of Farmington, Michigan.

Kareem had a breakout season in 2014 coming up with 85 tackles that included 18 sacks. College coaches loved the skill set of the 6’4”, 260 pound, big man with roughly 37 programs extending scholarship offers. Teams like Arkansas, Cal, Miami, Iowa, Stanford, Vanderbilt, Ohio State, Missouri, Penn State, and Oregon were among the many hoping to pull the Michigan native to their campus for college.

The heavy hitters jockeying for Kareem’s commitment appeared to be Tennessee, Michigan State, Michigan, South Carolina, Mississippi State, Notre Dame, and Alabama. Each had hosted the prized recruit at one time or another. Many felt he was a Wolverine’s lean.

In the end Alabama added their 16th verbal commitment to their 2016 class that includes 5-star Jonah Williams along with eight recruits that are widely considered 4-star players, including Kareem.

Michigan fans cannot hang their heads too low. Harbaugh did land 4-star offensive tackle Devery Hamilton out of Gilman High School in Baltimore, Maryland on Wednesday. Big Blue now has 19 verbal commitments to their 2016 class that includes seven 4-star recruits.

 

Photo credit: umgoblue.com; No. 53 Khalid Kareem