Happy Gump Day: Tide flips ‘26 QB Jett Thomalla, and you’ve rarely seen a prettier deep throw

Happy Gump Day everyone. We’ll try to keep this upbeat (though we do have to mock the NCAA in a bit).

First up, 247 is starting their in-depth recap / position preview this week. And today’s menu features the “bandit” and “wolf” positions. No, I don’t know what those mean, and I don’t care that I don’t know either: Mike, Will, SDE, Nose etc were good enough for Coach Saban, Pawwwwwl. (And yes I’m ignoring his “star” and “money” labels too. Reject modernity; embrace tradition).

Alabama’s Bandit and Wolf positions were explored in-depth by Cody Goodwin on Monday as part of Bama247’s summer positional breakdowns.

What does Alabama think about what they have at the positions?

Here’s what they said this spring:

Kane Wommack on April 14 about pass rush: ”We wanted to create more negative plays. When you look at some of our measureables and statistics and all those things last season, there’s a lot of great numbers to point towards, but one thing we wanted to focus on was creating negative plays and getting to the quarterback in the backfield. That’s something that schematically we can get better at, point of emphasis we can get better at it, fundamentally we can get better at it. A lot of it is just doing your job. A lot of times when you create negative plays and you affect the quarterback in the passing game it doesn’t just mean you win a 1-on-1 battle, but you rush as a unit and you keep the quarterback in the pocket as we show them different coverages on the back end. Those are things I think we took steps in the right direction.”

Is it a bit lazy? Sure. But is it useful stuff if you missed it in April? Certainly. Is it especially helpful if you don’t even know what a bandit and wolf are, outside of like Skyrim? Absolutely.

I’ll carry my own burdens, thanks.

---

The Tide flipped 4-star Iowa State QB commit Jett Thomalla yesterday, meaning ‘Bama is taking two quarterbacks in its 2026 class.

Thomalla, a four-star quarterback from Omaha, Nebraska, had been committed to Iowa State since April. He took just one visit to Tuscaloosa during the 2025 summer recruiting cycle, visiting the Capstone for an unofficial visit on May 30. He took an official visit back to Iowa State on June 6, but the Tide was able to maintain enough communication to secure a flip from the four-star prospect.

Thomalla is ranked as a top-15 quarterback in the 2026 recruiting class and the No. 205 overall prospect in the 2026 recruiting class. The 6-foot-4, 210-pound quarterback will be at the Elite 11 at the end of June.

Read More: Alabama Flips Four-Star Iowa State QB Commit | https://tide1009.com/alabama-flips-four-star-iowa-state-quarterback/?utm_source=tsmclip&utm_medium=referral

Here is your obligatory breakdown:

I honestly haven’t watched enough of the kid to opine on him with the thoroughness such a commitment requires, so I therefore repeat: Tis better to be silent and be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt.

You can draw your own conclusions from some highlights, and I’m sure Bront and CB have opinions as well.

Here are some highlights, though. And I absolutely adore his placement, arc, and accuracy on deep throws. You can see why DeBoer loves him. He makes 60 air-yards look effortless.

---

Henry Ruggs has been a model inmate since his incarceration for vehicular manslaughter, and has been selected to do a series of “scared straight” lectures with Hope for Prisoners.

Last night in Las Vegas, he was talking about the importance of making good choices, and apologized to the victim’s family. Some said it sounded insincere, but I honestly find it encouraging that he’s identifying and also apologizing for those second-order effects that continue to haunt the family because of his fame.

“I wish I could turn back the hands of time,” Ruggs said on Tuesday night when asked what he would say to Tintor’s family. “I would love for them to meet the real Henry Ruggs and not the one that was escaping from something. I sincerely apologize for not only being a part of that situation, but the fact that — not to take a shot at you — but the fact that my face is always in the news. My face is always in the newspaper, so they have to be constantly reminded of the situation, be reminded of me and see, you know, those memories have to continue to rise because of all the fame and notoriety that I have, which I never asked for, I never liked. So I would just tell them that.

Perhaps I’m reading too much into it, but that’s my takeaway at least. Ruggs is still just 26 years old, and has served two years of his 3-10 in Nevada. Given his conduct and outreach, he could be released with enough mileage left on him to still play again. I don’t know that the NFL would have him back, but the CFL always beckons. And with his speed, and those huge fields, it might be a better fit anyway.

---

How humble was Josh Jacobs? He didn’t even think he was going to get the NFL, despite how well he played at Alabama — his focus was on books until it was time to declare for the draft.

---

Wilkin Formby is hosting a free football camp for the kiddos. If you’re around, you may as well benefit from some SEC-level coaching. It’s next weekend here in Tuscaloosa.

---

LOL. This is going to be a disaster.

So, the obvious question has arisen since the House settlement: How exactly is the NCAA going to monitor and enforce this stuff?

Wouldn’t you know it — with a commission (they just can’t help themselves):

Soon, it won’t be NCAA enforcement veterans arguing their case against schools before a cadre of faculty athletic reps, lawyers and athletic directors around a set of U-shaped tables. Rather, there will be no hearing at all upon reaching the denouement of a process that is typically measured in years and not months. Instead, perhaps as early as this July, a written notice will simply be sent out to those who have been found to breach some of the new regulations in place. It will bear the logo of the newly formed College Sports Commission overseeing the new process and will rather succinctly inform them of their fate (in an ideal world) just a few weeks after an infraction takes place.

For most, in both theory and practice, it will be a welcome reset of an aspect of college sports.

“One of the most frustrating things, especially in the last decade, has been the enforcement process,” one Power 4 athletic director says. “There’s a lack of trust in the system. We’ll see about [the future] with the CSC.”

How long before the NCAA’s new CSC gets hauled into court? I’m guessing it happens the very first time a school receives a letter — no notice, no hearing — informing them that they have violated a rule and are now being penalized.

---

And, finally, your moment of levity (and a belated Happy Father’s Day to you all).

I hate how hard this goes. These are bars.

---

Have a great day, and Row Tahd