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Kalen DeBoer continues to make noise on the recruiting trail.

Four-star safety Junior Tu’upo is beginning to narrow his recruitment, and the Alabama Crimson Tide football is firmly in the mix as one of his top contenders.

According to Chad Simmons of Rivals, Tu’upo, a standout defensive back from Thompson High School in Alabama, has trimmed his list to five schools: Alabama, Auburn, Indiana, Oregon, and Texas.

Ranked No. 224 overall in the Rivals Industry Ranking, Tu’upo has been one of the more active prospects on the recruiting trail this spring, already visiting multiple powerhouse programs while building relationships with coaching staffs across the country.

Inside Junior Tu’upo’s Top 5 Schools

There are several familiar names in his final list of top schools, with a couple being SEC rivals to Kalen DeBoer and the Crimson Tide. But there are also a pair of Big 10 teams that have turned into college football powerhouses.

“They all showed interest in me early, and that meant a lot,” Tu’upo told Rivals. “I like the hospitality, how they treat me and my family, and just being able to see the culture, the coaches and everything outside of football.”

Spring Visits Shaping Tu’upo’s Recruitment

Tu’upo has already taken visits to several of his top schools, including Florida, BYU, Auburn, Miami, Texas, Texas A&M, Alabama, and Indiana. Each stop has played a role in shaping his perspective.

His recent visit with the Indiana Hoosiers football team stood out in particular.

“I got to spend a lot of time around the players, and that was the best part,” Tu’upo said.

He also noted that programs like Alabama, Auburn, and Texas currently hold a slight edge due to the frequency of his visits.

Junior Tu’upo’s Official Visit Schedule

Tu’upo has now scheduled a full slate of official visits for the summer, which will be critical in determining his final decision:

• Oregon — May 29
• Texas — June 5
• Auburn — June 12
• Alabama — June 19

His visit to Alabama on June 19 could be especially important, as the Crimson Tide looks to make a strong impression heading into decision season for the talented defensive back.

The Alabama Standard Stands Out for Tu’upo

For Tu’upo, Alabama’s reputation continues to resonate.

“The Alabama standard is big for me,” he said. “That high standard is what I work for. They’ve got great culture, a great staff and they’ve produced a lot of players.”

That combination of development, culture, and NFL pipeline has long made Alabama a major player in elite defensive back recruiting, and it is no different for Tu’upo.

When Will Tu’upo Make a Decision?

Tu’upo plans to take all of his official visits before making a final decision, though he isn’t ruling out an earlier commitment if one program separates itself.

“If I feel it on a visit, I could commit,” he said. “That’s not the plan right now, but I’m open to it.”

With official visits approaching and momentum building, Alabama remains firmly in contention for one of the top defensive backs in the 2027 recruiting cycle.