Mason Stabler, the nation’s top-ranked quarterback for the 2026 recruiting class and the grandson of Alabama legend Ken “The Snake” Stabler, announced his commitment to the University of Alabama on Monday. The announcement, which sent waves of celebration through the Crimson Tide fanbase, was punctuated by a detail of immense historical significance: Stabler will wear his grandfather’s iconic No. 12 jersey.
The five-star prospect from Gulfport, Mississippi, made his decision public via a social media post that featured a digitally rendered image of him looking at a reflection of his grandfather, both clad in Crimson Tide uniforms bearing the legendary number.
“Some things are just meant to be,” Stabler wrote in his announcement. “It’s an honor to carry on this legacy, not just for my family, but for the entire Alabama nation. This is more than a commitment; it’s a homecoming. I’m ready to come home and earn it. Roll Tide.”
The commitment is a monumental recruiting victory for Head Coach Kalen DeBoer, securing a cornerstone for a future championship run. However, the story transcends football metrics. It represents the return of a hallowed name to Tuscaloosa. Ken Stabler, who passed away in 2015 and was posthumously inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, is one of the most revered figures in Alabama history. He led the Tide to an undefeated season in 1966 and went on to a legendary NFL career, winning Super Bowl XI with the Oakland Raiders. His cool demeanor, left-handed throwing motion, and knack for late-game heroics made him an icon.
His grandson, Mason, appears poised to forge his own legacy. A 6-foot-3, 205-pound southpaw, he possesses the same uncanny pocket presence and creative playmaking ability as his grandfather, but with the added dimension of modern dual-threat athleticism. As a junior at Gulfport High, he threw for 3,800 yards and 45 touchdowns while rushing for another 650 yards and 10 scores.
“When you recruit a player of Mason’s caliber, you are focused on his talent, his leadership, and his character, all of which are exceptional,” Coach DeBoer said in a statement. “But we are not blind to the historic and emotional significance of this commitment. The Stabler name means so much to this university and to college football. To have Mason choose to continue that legacy here is incredibly special. We are ecstatic to welcome him to the family.”
The decision to grant Mason Stabler the No. 12 jersey is a significant gesture from the university. While not officially retired, the number is held in the same reverence as Joe Namath’s No. 12 and is not given out lightly. The move signals the program’s belief that he can handle the immense pressure that will come with wearing that number in Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Recruiting analysts have lauded the move, emphasizing that Stabler’s ranking is based purely on merit.
“Take the name away, and Mason Stabler is still QB1 in this class,” said a national recruiting analyst for 247Sports. “He has elite arm talent, processes defenses at a college level already, and has that ‘it’ factor you can’t teach. The fact that he’s a Stabler is just the storybook element that makes this historic.”
The news is a moment of pure celebration—a bridge between the black-and-white highlights of the Bear Bryant era and the high-definition future under Kalen DeBoer. A Stabler is coming home to Tuscaloosa, and he’s bringing his grandfather’s number with him.
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