Alabama must share 2026 Ohio QB due to split-sport commitment—he’s also a top baseball prospect with MLB interest.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama’s quarterback room could soon welcome one of the most intriguing prospects in the 2026 recruiting class—but if he commits to the Crimson Tide, Nick Saban’s successor Kalen DeBoer and Alabama fans might have to get used to sharing him.

That’s because this highly touted Ohio native isn’t just an elite quarterback. He’s also a legitimate Major League Baseball prospect.

The player in question—let’s call him by his name now, Julian “J.R.” Thompson—is one of the top dual-sport athletes in the nation. A four-star quarterback from suburban Columbus, Thompson has dazzled on the gridiron with his rocket arm and dual-threat mobility. But he’s equally electric on the diamond, where he plays shortstop and center field, hitting for power and speed with a cannon arm that regularly hits 94 mph on throws from the outfield.

And with scouts from MLB teams as well as blueblood college programs tracking his every move, Thompson is poised to have an unorthodox college experience—if he goes to college at all.

Alabama, which offered Thompson a football scholarship in January, has become a serious contender for his services. But should the Crimson Tide win the recruiting battle, it will come with a twist: Thompson would be a two-sport athlete, splitting his time between football in the fall and baseball in the spring.

And that’s not just a cool headline—it’s a logistical reality that could shape his development and Alabama’s roster management for years.

Who Is Julian “J.R.” Thompson?

Standing 6-foot-3 and weighing in at 200 pounds, J.R. Thompson checks every box a coach could want in a modern quarterback. He’s got the arm strength to push the ball 60 yards downfield, the poise to read defenses pre-snap, and the footwork to escape pressure and keep plays alive.

In his sophomore season at Ridgewood High School in Ohio, he passed for over 3,000 yards and 31 touchdowns while rushing for another 900 yards and 12 scores. He earned first-team all-state honors and caught the attention of Power Five recruiters across the country.

But that’s just half of the story.

On the baseball field, Thompson is ranked as a top-100 national prospect in the Class of 2026 by Perfect Game. His athleticism and arm strength translate beautifully to center field, and he’s been clocked at 6.5 seconds in the 60-yard dash. Scouts project him as a potential Day 1 MLB Draft pick, especially if he continues to develop power at the plate.

It’s no surprise that schools like Alabama, Ohio State, Michigan, LSU, and Florida State are recruiting him in both sports.

Alabama’s Pitch: Embrace the Dual Dream

When Alabama extended a football offer to Thompson, it came with a clear message: he wouldn’t have to give up baseball.

Sources close to the recruitment say that both football head coach Kalen DeBoer and baseball head coach Rob Vaughn have assured Thompson and his family that he’d be allowed—and supported—to pursue both sports at the highest level.

That’s no small commitment. Managing a two-sport athlete, especially one playing quarterback, is an enormous undertaking.

But Alabama has experience navigating this terrain. Former stars like Brody Croyle, John Parker Wilson, and AJ McCarron were known to participate in multiple sports during their prep careers, even if they focused on football in college. More recently, Alabama has actively recruited multi-sport stars such as Jerrick Gibson and Tyler Booker in football, and Dylan Lonergan—who is also a baseball pitcher for the Tide.

“Coach DeBoer told me I wouldn’t have to choose,” Thompson said during a recent interview. “He said they’d work with baseball to make it happen. That meant a lot to me.”

That kind of flexibility, coupled with Alabama’s national brand, gives the Crimson Tide a unique edge in Thompson’s recruitment.

The Challenges of Playing Both Sports

While the idea of a two-sport star brings excitement and nostalgia—think Bo Jackson, Deion Sanders, or Kyler Murray—the reality is a bit more complicated.

For a quarterback, spring is critical. Spring football practices are where young QBs install schemes, develop timing with receivers, and climb depth charts. Missing those sessions can delay a player’s progression and limit opportunities in the fall.

But spring is also baseball season.

If Thompson enrolls at Alabama and commits to both sports, he would likely miss spring football every year. That would force DeBoer and offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan to make tough decisions about game reps, quarterback pecking order, and developmental reps in the offseason.

In contrast, from the baseball side, Thompson would need to manage in-season travel and games while balancing the rigors of the football offseason—including strength training, playbook study, and potential media obligations.

“It’s not impossible, but it’s rare for a reason,” said SEC Network analyst and former LSU quarterback Rohan Davey. “You’ve got to be elite at managing your time, and you need both coaching staffs to be fully on board.”

In short, Thompson would be juggling two full-time jobs while trying to earn starting status in the most high-pressure position in college sports.

The MLB Factor

There’s another potential wrinkle: the MLB Draft.

If Thompson continues on his current trajectory, he could hear his name called early in the 2026 MLB Draft. The league’s slot values for first-round picks range from $2 million to over $8 million, depending on the position and year.

Would Thompson take the money and go pro?

His family has made it clear that academics and football matter, but so does opportunity. They’ve not ruled anything out.

“We’re going to take it one step at a time,” Thompson’s father, Marcus, said. “J.R. loves both sports. If there’s a chance to do both at Alabama, we’re open to that. But we’ll evaluate the MLB Draft when the time comes.”

Alabama knows that risk. But they also know the upside: if Thompson delays pro baseball to attend college, he becomes one of the most unique weapons in the country—and a potential program changer for two different teams.

Roster Impact and Strategic Planning

From a roster management perspective, Thompson’s unique situation would require Alabama to plan carefully.

In football, his potential absence from spring workouts would necessitate the presence of a strong quarterback room with depth—especially if he’s expected to compete for the starting role.

In baseball, head coach Rob Vaughn would need to budget at-bats and manage scholarship allocations (NCAA baseball programs have limited scholarship slots compared to football) while working around Thompson’s fall football commitments.

It’s a logistical headache—but one that Alabama is seemingly willing to take on.

“J.R. is the kind of athlete you make exceptions for,” a source inside Alabama’s athletic department said. “He’s that good.”

What Other Schools Are Saying

Alabama isn’t the only school willing to support Thompson’s dual ambitions.

Ohio State—located just 30 minutes from his home—has made him a priority in both sports. So have Michigan and LSU, both of which have successful track records in developing both football and baseball talent.

But not every school is open to the idea. Some coaching staffs have made it clear that they want him to pick one sport and stick with it.

Thompson, however, has held firm.

“If I’m going to college, I want to play both,” he said. “That’s part of who I am.”

A Rare Talent in a New Era

College sports are evolving, and multi-sport athletes like J.R. Thompson are increasingly rare due to the specialized demands of each sport. But Thompson’s skill set and discipline put him in a category all his own.

He’s not just another dual-threat quarterback.

He’s not just another baseball standout.

He’s a legitimate game-changer in two arenas—and Alabama fans may soon have the privilege (and challenge) of watching him do both in crimson and white.

Final Thoughts

Julian “J.R.” Thompson represents the future of multi-sport excellence in college athletics—if he chooses to go that route. For Alabama, landing him would be a massive recruiting win with layered implications. The Crimson Tide would get an elite quarterback with a professional-caliber arm and leadership skills—but they’d also have to share him with their baseball program, and possibly the MLB.

It’s a complex proposition, but one that could pay off in unforgettable ways.

If J.R. Thompson commits to Alabama, fans in Tuscaloosa better clear their calendars—for Saturdays in Bryant-Denny and weekends at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. Because Alabama wouldn’t just be landing a quarterback or a center fielder.

They’d be getting both.