‘I love Alabama’: Parker’s Vodney Cleveland is eager to join Crimson Tide

Six Parker High School seniors signed with the Division I football program on Wednesday, National Signing Day. Thundering Herd players will travel to Oregon, Washington, Auburn, Tennessee, Colorado State and Georgia State.

Nine hats were on the table as the players made their college decisions official. Alabama was conspicuously absent.

But that doesn’t mean the Tide has lost access to one of the most talented high school programs in the state. Alabama signed Parker defensive lineman Jeremiah Beaman last year. Junior defensive tackle Vodney Cleveland is the Tide’s first commitment for the 2026 class.

The 6-3, 305-pound Cleveland committed to the Tide in October over offers from Auburn, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, USC and Texas A&M.

Cleveland said he is excited to be an early part of the Crimson Tide’s 2026 class for head coach Kalen DeBoer and assistant coach Freddie Roach.

“I love coach Roach and coach DeBoer,” Cleveland said. “Coach Roach has been with me for over two years. He always has a smile on his face but knows when to go to work.”

Cleveland is ranked as the No. 5 prospect in the state by On3. BamaOnLine recruiting analyst Andrew Bone believes Cleveland has a chance to be special for the Tide.

“Cleveland is someone who is really good height and not a bad weight,” Bone said. “He is strong, powerful, agile and plays violently. He is a very up-and-coming type of player and one who we believe has the chance to develop into an impactful defensive player at the next level.

“There has been a lot of talk about in-state recruiting. Alabama only signed two in-state recruits in Coach DeBoer’s first year, but the out-of-state success has alleviated many concerns. Alabama is off to a good start with Cleveland with underclassmen and two in-state commits in the Class of 27. Cleveland is a great start to the next cycle. A lot depends on how many in-state recruits Alabama wants to offer, but they will especially want to add those they recruit heavily.”

Cleveland has one more game with its senior this season when the Thundering Herd face undefeated and top-ranked Saraland in the Class 6A state championship at Birmingham’s Protective Stadium.

“It was great to learn from the older guys like (Washington signee) Caleb Smith and (Auburn signee) Jourdin Crawford and even before that Jeremiah Beaman. We train together at Step by Step. We all feel like we are playing for our entire community and the city of Birmingham.”

Cleveland said he is eager to be part of the Crimson Tide tradition.

“I love Alabama,” Cleveland said. “I have no plans to change my commitment.”