Kalen DeBoer sent a threatening and warning message to Gator after the Gators stole a five-star linebacker from Alabama.
In one of the most shocking recruiting twists of the decade, the Florida Gators have flipped a five-star linebacker commitment from the Alabama Crimson Tide, leaving Tuscaloosa reeling and Gainesville roaring. But the drama didn’t end there.
According to sources close to both programs, Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer did not take the loss lightly. In a rare breach of coaching protocol, DeBoer allegedly sent a scathing, strongly-worded message to members of Florida’s coaching staff—an uncharacteristically aggressive response that has since ignited controversy across the college football world.
It all began with a whisper in early April—rumblings that Malik Spencer Jr., the nation’s No. 1 ranked linebacker and a consensus five-star prospect out of Buford, Georgia, was having second thoughts about his verbal commitment to Alabama.
Spencer, a 6-foot-3, 230-pound sideline-to-sideline monster with the instincts of a veteran NFL linebacker, had committed to Alabama nearly a year ago. His decision seemed ironclad. His father played for the Tide. His older brother is currently a backup safety on the roster. And he had long spoken of following in their footsteps.
But behind the scenes, Florida’s new defensive coordinator, Marcus Freeman, had been quietly laying groundwork. A former Notre Dame head coach with a reputation as a master recruiter, Freeman built a relationship with Spencer based on vision, fit, and opportunity.
“Florida didn’t just sell me on being another piece of the puzzle,” Spencer told Gators247 after his flip. “They showed me I could be the centerpiece. The face of a new defense. That meant everything.”
Head coach Billy Napier had reportedly made Spencer a priority since December. After a dismal 2024 season that saw the Gators finish 6–6, Napier knew he needed to rebuild fast—and Spencer represented both a symbolic and strategic victory.
In late April, Florida made a bold move: they sent nearly their entire defensive staff to Georgia for Spencer’s final in-home visit. The message? “You are the future.”
The Gators laid out a blueprint for Spencer’s role, showed him mock-ups of NIL packages reportedly north of seven figures, and most importantly, tapped into the emotional aspect of recruiting—respect, leadership, and legacy.
According to recruiting insiders, Spencer’s visit to Gainesville just days before his scheduled National Signing Day appearance with Alabama tipped the scales.
