"You see a lot of players go there and get developed": Nation's No. 1 IOL Lamar Brown breaks down Alabama's appeal ahead of scheduled visit

The recruitment of Lamar Brown, the nation’s No. 1 interior offensive lineman, has become a fierce battle among college football’s big programs. Kalen DeBoer's Alabama coaching staff has been pursuing the five-star prospect for months, and the Crimson Tide's wide receivers coach, JaMarcus Shephard, also visited him last week.

Brown is scheduled to visit Alabama on Feb. 1. Ahead of the trip, he lauded the Crimson Tide's legacy, saying (via On3):

“It’s just the standard, really. You see a lot of players go there, get developed, and get a chance to go to the NFL.”

Offensive line coach Chris Kapilovic is recruiting Brown at Alabama. The standout prospect from Louisiana notified recruiting insider Nate Gravender last week that besides Alabama, he is considering visiting Florida, Texas A&M, Miami, Florida State, Tennessee and Oregon.

Being an in-state program, LSU is seen as the leader in Brown's recruitment and holds a 99.0% chance of securing his commitment, as per On3. However, the recruitment scenario of blue-chip prospects like him changes within days, and the momentum can even take a U-turn following visits to other schools.

Can Alabama secure Lamar Brown's commitment?

Lamar Brown played over 120 snaps in his junior season without allowing a single sack or pressure. His flawless performance earned him a spot on the MaxPreps High School Football Junior All-America second team. He is the No. 1 prospect in Louisiana and the No. 11 prospect in the nation, according to the On3 Industry Rankings.

Acquiring such a promising prospect would be a big boost to Alabama's 2026 class, but the path won't be easy. In an interview with ESPN, Brown was asked about his tips to other recruits regarding committing to a school, and he shared his take, saying:

"Take your time. Don't listen to the outsiders. Don't commit on emotions because I almost did that one time. Whatever game you go to or anything. Just take your time. Enjoy the process. That's what I'm doing right now. I'm just enjoying everything."

Based on Brown's comment, it can be said that he is going to be forward-looking in his recruitment. Alabama's coaching staff must pursue him hard to include him in its 2026 class, which holds one committed player in four-star cornerback Zyan Gibson.