A young child with a front-row seat for Elijah Haven‘s commitment announcement began to immediately ask the direct question many LSU fans may have for the hometown Dunham quarterback.
“Why would you choose—,” the child started moments following Haven revealed his pledge to SEC rival Alabama, before stopping mid-sentence and changing course.
Haven and his family, decked out in Crimson Tide gear, and others in attendance smiled or chuckled at the candid moment, but the highly touted, highly ranked national prospect didn’t blink or shy away from any questions on the topic or his recruiting process as a whole.
The 6-foot-5, 220-pound star broke down his process and his ultimate decision to take his talents to Tuscaloosa, Ala., with the same poise that has made him such a productive quarterback and openness and ease that have made him such a beloved teammate, mentor and member of his school and hometown community.
“The constant communication,” Haven said, returning to major themes of his recruitment as a whole in which he and his family prioritized consistency and stability as major factors. “A lot of coaches have been fired through this whole process, and it kind of changed the picture for us. But Bama was consistent throughout the whole process, and that’s really what the determining factor for us.”
Several other notable programs in the equation throughout the past few years, such as LSU, Florida, Penn State and Auburn, underwent coaching changes this fall.
Alabama wasn’t without its own notable staff development in the process as quarterbacks coach Nick Sheridan, a point-person in Haven’s recruitment, accepted Michigan State’s offensive coordinator position this January.
But Haven’s father, Kwame Haven, said the Crimson Tide’s handling of that transition only solidified the family’s comfort and confidence with the program and its prioritization of his son from new quarterbacks coach Bryan Ellis not missing a beat to head coach Kalen DeBoer getting involved and ultimately the university extending DeBoer’s contract earlier this month.
DeBoer, preparing for his third season in Tuscaloosa, is now slated to continue to lead the program through January 2033.
“I can’t give an exact time, but they’ve been the most consistent,” Kwame Haven said of when he know Alabama was moving the the forefront of Elijah’s list. “Coach Nick Sheridan was the quarterbacks coach originally, and just over time developing that relationship and getting to know more and more of the staff, the coaches and the recruiting staff. And they also handled the transition as (Sheridan) was moving on and accelerating in his career by going to be the OC at Michigan State, it was a seamless transition.
“It was a process to where they were able to be transparent and, I guess, honest and genuine. That’s the most important part to me throughout this entire process. Everybody’s gonna put their best foot forward, but sometimes you have to deliver bad news, and that may be OK. And then the way coach Ellis was able to kind of pick up the ball and then coach DeBoer started to get involved more and showcase that Elijah’s a priority for them.”
Elijah said he and his parents sat down to discuss the decision “pretty much every day this week just kind of making sure our heads are aligned” and that, even despite a strong push in recent months by Georgia, they continued to feel Alabama was their best decision and fit.
In addition to the program’s consistency in his recruitment, he also pointed to the coaches’ history of developing quarterbacks for not only success in college, but opportunities at the next level.
Alabama starter Ty Simpson was selected Thursday by the Los Angeles Rams as the No. 13 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft as the most recent a proof of concept, but both DeBoer and Ellis have previously prepared passers at various stops to go on to professional careers.
“Coach DeBoer’s great — not just on the field, but also off the field,” Elijah Haven said. “He’s gotten to know me and my family really well off the field. And you’ve seen it with the past. He just had a first-round draft pick with Ty Simpson and looking to just continue to build that at Bama.”
Haven hosted a youth camp for local athletes ages 5-13 in the hours ahead of his announcement, and campers were then invited to sit in the front few rows for the highly anticipated moment.
“It’s so much fun,” Dunham coach Neil Weiner said. “When you’re that kid, that leaves a mark and an impression on you you don’t ever forget. I still remember (former LSU and NFL receiver) Todd Kinchen when I was in the second grade throwing passes to me in the gym at Trafton Academy, the Dunham School back in 1984 and ’85. Those are things that stick with you all the time. So for 75 kids to come by and throw with Elijah, but also to have the other guys out here working drills and getting ’em to tackle and block. What a great experience for the little kids, but really it’s great for those high school boys to het to give back, and Elijah led the way on that.”
One camper got to join Elijah Haven as little brother Emmanuel, currently a second-grader, joined his parents, Kwame and Ebony, and big siblings Elijah and Edyn.
“Manny” unzipped his top shirt to reveal his Alabama gear with the rest of his family and celebrate the moment and continued to have a field day as he was briefly handed a camera to capture Elijah during the midst of a media scrum breaking down the decision.
Elijah asked whether he had to worry about a ripped shirt during camp inadvertently revealing the decision early, coolly smiled, “There’s always that, but he honestly might have told a couple people beforehand anyway. Just having him be here is definitely very special. I’m glad he got to be a part of this and got to see me do this so he can kind of envision that for himself down the road.”
He further pointed out how everyone at Alabama knew Manny and how at home even the youngest Haven seemed to be there as another confirmation the family had found the right fit.
Kwame, himself a Bulldogs fan growing up, said he hopes as passionate as SEC fans are for their respective programs that Elijah will have a rare opportunity to win over some new Alabama fans in Georgia and Louisiana.
“I hear more from friends, family they don’t really care — they’re Elijah fans above all,” he smiled. “I grew up a Georgia fan. It’s just one of those things, but that’s the great thing about sports, college sports, college football is you have the fandom. But I think Elijah presents a unique opportunity to maybe pick up a few new fans in some areas that traditionally maybe weren’t.”
The young camper with the question on the decision may be among the first. But he won’t be the last.
“One good thing is he doesn’t have to change his colors — same colors — so it might be easier for the Dunham folks to wear some cardinal or crimson,” Weiner joked. “You know what, I’ve never been to Tuscaloosa before, so I’m gonna have to make my first trip at some point. Bu people in Baton Rouge are excited for Elijah. Whether they’re LSU fans or not, they’re excited and want to see him have success. They might say they hope he goes 11-1 and hope he loses to LSU, I don’t know. But I know we’re Elijah Haven fans and we’re excited for him.”