Alabama football is red hot on the recruiting trail after landing another major commitment during a pivotal stretch for the 2026 cycle. Gainesville (Georgia) five-star linebacker Xavier Griffin became the latest blue-chip prospect to join the Crimson Tide’s growing class on Sunday, choosing Alabama over finalists Florida State, Ohio State and Texas.
Griffin is now the highest-rated pledge in Alabama’s 2026 class and joins Marietta (Georgia) Sprayberry cornerback Jorden Edmonds as the second Top247 five-star prospect in the group.
The 6-foot-3, 200-pound Griffin ranks as the No. 1 linebacker and No. 8 overall prospect nationally in the 2026 class, per 247Sports. He was previously committed to USC for nearly a year before reopening his recruitment in May.
Griffin took his official visit to Alabama in early June — his first trip to Tuscaloosa in 2025 — and the Crimson Tide clearly made a lasting impression. He followed it with official trips to Texas and Florida State on back-to-back weekends, and had visited Ohio State in late May.
“It was a great time,” Griffin told Bama247 after the visit. “I think my favorite part was all the love the current players showed during the photo shoot. They were hyping us all up. That was awesome.”
Griffin built bonds with both defensive coordinator Kane Wommack and outside linebackers coach Christian Robinson.
“I actually spent more time with Wommack this trip just because I spent a lot of time with [Robinson] during the spring,” Griffin told Bama247. “Coach Wommack talked a lot about using me in multiple positions just because of my versatility and athletic abilities. He is fired up and wants to coach me.”
With Griffin now on board, Alabama is up to 14 commitments in its 2026 class. Just before the start of the summer dead period for visits, the Crimson Tide sat outside the top 40 nationally in the team recruiting rankings for this current cycle — unfamiliar territory for a program that secured 10 (!!) No. 1 classes during the Nick Saban era.
But after adding Griffin and six other pledges in the past week — including top-100 prospects Mack Sutter, a four-star tight end from Dunlap (Illinois), and Ezavier Crowell, a four-star running back from Jackson (Alabama) — Alabama has vaulted to No. 8 in the national rankings, signaling a major momentum shift under coach Kalen DeBoer.
And the Crimson Tide may not be done yet. Two more five-star targets — wide receiver Cederian Morgan (July 2) and safety Jireh Edwards (July 5) — are set to announce their college decisions in the coming days. Both took official visits to Alabama in June, and the Tide remain firmly in the mix for each.
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Roberto Baggio interview – ‘To entertain people… that’s what I lived for’
It was the week before Lionel Messi’s 38th birthday. His wife, Antonella, must have been wondering what to get him. Then a gift arrived — early and unexpected — a special one that, judging from the boyish grin on Messi’s face, made him feel like a kid again. Waiting for Messi at Inter Miami’s Florida Blue training facility was Roberto Baggio. He was in town for the Club World Cup, and when the opportunity presented itself to visit Messi, the hour in the car from Miami Beach to Fort Lauderdale, the grind of the Florida traffic, didn’t matter.AdvertisementWhen Baggio played, he played for one reason and one reason only. It wasn’t for the money or the fame. He had a different motive. “To entertain the people,” he says. “That’s what I lived for. That was my dream. For the people to […]
Amazonian Dream bids to go back-to-back at Windsor
We have a busy day of flat action on Monday with racing from Ffos Las, Windsor and Wolverhampton, live on Sky Sports Racing...7.15 Windsor - Amazonian Dream, Toca Madera and Elmonjed clashRod Millman's Amazonian Dream has fallen to a dangerous mark of 84, having put in some below-par efforts recently and should go well in the Fitzdares Sprint Series Handicap, having won this race last year off the same mark. Four-year-old Elmonjed ran a solid race in defeat at Newbury last time and has course form, beating Amazonian Dream in August of last year. He's in top hands, being trained by William Haggas, and is expected to progress further.Toca Madera finished third at York behind subsequent Kings Charles III-winner American Affair and went close over the five furlongs at Windsor last time. He represents the Brian Meehan team and his […]
British GP: Schedule and how to watch for free on Sky
The British Grand Prix is here and it also marks the halfway point of an enthralling 2025 Formula 1 season.Lando Norris' win last time out in Austria has set him up perfectly for a first win at Silverstone on home soil and another opportunity to eat into his 15-point deficit to championship leader Oscar Piastri. The McLaren pair had an epic duel at the Austrian Grand Prix but Norris came out on top and he will look to win consecutive races for the first time in the same season.Max Verstappen is 63 points behind Piastri after he was hit by Kimi Antonelli on the opening lap of Sunday's race, so will need to cause a major upset to stand any realistic chance of reviving his title chances.All eyes will be on Lewis Hamilton's first British Grand Prix as a Ferrari […]
England go back to where Bazball was born with Duckett the heartbeat
When was Bazball born?When Jonny Bairstow went berserk after tea against New Zealand at Trent Bridge in June 2022 as his 136 from 92 deliveries helped England chase 299 in precisely 50 overs? Perhaps.What about when he clattered 71 not out from 44 balls two weeks later at Headingley as the hosts successfully knocked off a target of 296 in 54.2 overs to clinch a 3-0 sweep?Possibly. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Highlights from the final day at Edgbaston in 2022 as Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root guided England to a record chase of 378 against India But it was arguably the stunning win over India at Edgbaston the following month that propelled Bazball - a vibrant and aggressive style of play named after new England head coach Brendon McCullum - into the common cricketing […]
Životní závod nováčka F 1, prohnal i svého manažera: Pozvání na večeři? Alonso bude muset zaplatit víc
Bortoleto zazářil už osmou příčkou v kvalifikaci a tuto pozici dokázal udržet také v závodě. Nebyl však daleko od toho, aby se posunul ještě o jedno místo dopředu. V posledních kolech mocně dotíral na 43letého Alonsa, který měl výrazně starší pneumatiky. Španěl však opět ukázal svou obranářskou extratřídu. „Byla to nejintenzivnější bitva, jakou jsem zatím ve formuli 1 zažil,“ připustil Bortoleto.Na chviličku se před velezkušeného soka dostal, pilot týmu Aston Martin mu však předjetí hned oplatil. Následně se oba závodníci přimotali i do souboje o prvenství mezi Norrisem a Piastrim, a tak si museli při dramatickém duelu hlídat i modré vlajky. „Bylo to šílené. Skvělý souboj a jsem rád, že jsem s Fernandem mohl bojovat o takové body,“ říkal Brazilec, jenž od fanoušků obdržel ocenění pro nejlepšího jezdce dne.Hned v cíli na něm ale byla znát určitá hořkost, protože pomýšlel ještě výš. „Fakt se omlouvám, nemohl jsem se před něj dostat,“ smutnil. „To je v pohodě, […]
Životní závod nováčka F 1, prohnal i svého manažera: Pozvání na večeři? Alonso bude muset zaplatit víc
Bortoleto zazářil už osmou příčkou v kvalifikaci a tuto pozici dokázal udržet také v závodě. Nebyl však daleko od toho, aby se posunul ještě o jedno místo dopředu. V posledních kolech mocně dotíral na 43letého Alonsa, který měl výrazně starší pneumatiky. Španěl však opět ukázal svou obranářskou extratřídu. „Byla to nejintenzivnější bitva, jakou jsem zatím ve formuli 1 zažil,“ připustil Bortoleto.Na chviličku se před velezkušeného soka dostal, pilot týmu Aston Martin mu však předjetí hned oplatil. Následně se oba závodníci přimotali i do souboje o prvenství mezi Norrisem a Piastrim, a tak si museli při dramatickém duelu hlídat i modré vlajky. „Bylo to šílené. Skvělý souboj a jsem rád, že jsem s Fernandem mohl bojovat o takové body,“ říkal Brazilec, jenž od fanoušků obdržel ocenění pro nejlepšího jezdce dne.Hned v cíli na něm ale byla znát určitá hořkost, protože pomýšlel ještě výš. „Fakt se omlouvám, nemohl jsem se před něj dostat,“ smutnil. „To je v pohodě, […]
Related
Roberto Baggio interview – ‘To entertain people… that’s what I lived for’
It was the week before Lionel Messi’s 38th birthday. His wife, Antonella, must have been wondering what to get him. Then a gift arrived — early and unexpected — a special one that, judging from the boyish grin on Messi’s face, made him feel like a kid again. Waiting for Messi at Inter Miami’s Florida Blue training facility was Roberto Baggio. He was in town for the Club World Cup, and when the opportunity presented itself to visit Messi, the hour in the car from Miami Beach to Fort Lauderdale, the grind of the Florida traffic, didn’t matter.AdvertisementWhen Baggio played, he played for one reason and one reason only. It wasn’t for the money or the fame. He had a different motive. “To entertain the people,” he says. “That’s what I lived for. That was my dream. For the people to […]
England go back to where Bazball was born with Duckett the heartbeat
When was Bazball born?When Jonny Bairstow went berserk after tea against New Zealand at Trent Bridge in June 2022 as his 136 from 92 deliveries helped England chase 299 in precisely 50 overs? Perhaps.What about when he clattered 71 not out from 44 balls two weeks later at Headingley as the hosts successfully knocked off a target of 296 in 54.2 overs to clinch a 3-0 sweep?Possibly. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Highlights from the final day at Edgbaston in 2022 as Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root guided England to a record chase of 378 against India But it was arguably the stunning win over India at Edgbaston the following month that propelled Bazball - a vibrant and aggressive style of play named after new England head coach Brendon McCullum - into the common cricketing […]
British GP: Schedule and how to watch for free on Sky
The British Grand Prix is here and it also marks the halfway point of an enthralling 2025 Formula 1 season.Lando Norris' win last time out in Austria has set him up perfectly for a first win at Silverstone on home soil and another opportunity to eat into his 15-point deficit to championship leader Oscar Piastri. The McLaren pair had an epic duel at the Austrian Grand Prix but Norris came out on top and he will look to win consecutive races for the first time in the same season.Max Verstappen is 63 points behind Piastri after he was hit by Kimi Antonelli on the opening lap of Sunday's race, so will need to cause a major upset to stand any realistic chance of reviving his title chances.All eyes will be on Lewis Hamilton's first British Grand Prix as a Ferrari […]
Amazonian Dream bids to go back-to-back at Windsor
We have a busy day of flat action on Monday with racing from Ffos Las, Windsor and Wolverhampton, live on Sky Sports Racing...7.15 Windsor - Amazonian Dream, Toca Madera and Elmonjed clashRod Millman's Amazonian Dream has fallen to a dangerous mark of 84, having put in some below-par efforts recently and should go well in the Fitzdares Sprint Series Handicap, having won this race last year off the same mark. Four-year-old Elmonjed ran a solid race in defeat at Newbury last time and has course form, beating Amazonian Dream in August of last year. He's in top hands, being trained by William Haggas, and is expected to progress further.Toca Madera finished third at York behind subsequent Kings Charles III-winner American Affair and went close over the five furlongs at Windsor last time. He represents the Brian Meehan team and his […]
Životní závod nováčka F 1, prohnal i svého manažera: Pozvání na večeři? Alonso bude muset zaplatit víc
Bortoleto zazářil už osmou příčkou v kvalifikaci a tuto pozici dokázal udržet také v závodě. Nebyl však daleko od toho, aby se posunul ještě o jedno místo dopředu. V posledních kolech mocně dotíral na 43letého Alonsa, který měl výrazně starší pneumatiky. Španěl však opět ukázal svou obranářskou extratřídu. „Byla to nejintenzivnější bitva, jakou jsem zatím ve formuli 1 zažil,“ připustil Bortoleto.Na chviličku se před velezkušeného soka dostal, pilot týmu Aston Martin mu však předjetí hned oplatil. Následně se oba závodníci přimotali i do souboje o prvenství mezi Norrisem a Piastrim, a tak si museli při dramatickém duelu hlídat i modré vlajky. „Bylo to šílené. Skvělý souboj a jsem rád, že jsem s Fernandem mohl bojovat o takové body,“ říkal Brazilec, jenž od fanoušků obdržel ocenění pro nejlepšího jezdce dne.Hned v cíli na něm ale byla znát určitá hořkost, protože pomýšlel ještě výš. „Fakt se omlouvám, nemohl jsem se před něj dostat,“ smutnil. „To je v pohodě, […]
Životní závod nováčka F 1, prohnal i svého manažera: Pozvání na večeři? Alonso bude muset zaplatit víc
Bortoleto zazářil už osmou příčkou v kvalifikaci a tuto pozici dokázal udržet také v závodě. Nebyl však daleko od toho, aby se posunul ještě o jedno místo dopředu. V posledních kolech mocně dotíral na 43letého Alonsa, který měl výrazně starší pneumatiky. Španěl však opět ukázal svou obranářskou extratřídu. „Byla to nejintenzivnější bitva, jakou jsem zatím ve formuli 1 zažil,“ připustil Bortoleto.Na chviličku se před velezkušeného soka dostal, pilot týmu Aston Martin mu však předjetí hned oplatil. Následně se oba závodníci přimotali i do souboje o prvenství mezi Norrisem a Piastrim, a tak si museli při dramatickém duelu hlídat i modré vlajky. „Bylo to šílené. Skvělý souboj a jsem rád, že jsem s Fernandem mohl bojovat o takové body,“ říkal Brazilec, jenž od fanoušků obdržel ocenění pro nejlepšího jezdce dne.Hned v cíli na něm ale byla znát určitá hořkost, protože pomýšlel ještě výš. „Fakt se omlouvám, nemohl jsem se před něj dostat,“ smutnil. „To je v pohodě, […]
Be the first to leave a comment