Nation’s No. 1 LB Commits to SEC Powerhouse
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Diverging Reports Breakdown
SEC Powerhouse Predicted to Land Nation’s No. 2 RB
Ezavier Crowell, a five-star running back, will announce his decision on Thursday. He’s choosing between the Georgia Bulldogs, Florida Gators, Auburn Tigers, Texas Longhorns, Alabama Crimson Tide and Florida State Seminoles. On3 Industry Rankings place Crowell as the No. 2 running back in the nation and No. 3 player in Alabama. He has rushed for 3,701 yards and 56 touchdowns on 334 carries in his last two seasons.
As the college football offseason continues to roll on, many of the top players in the 2026 recruiting class are starting to make their commitment decisions, including running back Ezavier Crowell.
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He certainly has a solid group of options, as he’s choosing between the Georgia Bulldogs, Florida Gators, Auburn Tigers, Texas Longhorns, Alabama Crimson Tide and Florida State Seminoles, and will announce his decision on Thursday.
Of course, only one team will be lucky enough to land his services, and on Tuesday, On3’s Andrew Bone logged an expert prediction for Crowell to land within the SEC and choose the Crimson Tide.
Crowell would undoubtedly be a huge addition for the program, as On3 Industry Rankings place him as a five-star recruit, the No. 2 running back, the No. 3 player in Alabama and the No. 31 player in the nation.
Jackson High School running back Ezavier Crowell© Gary Cosby Jr. / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
In his last two seasons for Jackson High School, Crowell has been extremely productive, appearing in 27 games and rushing for 3,701 yards and 56 touchdowns on 334 carries.
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Crowell’s most impressive season was 2024, as he was named a MaxPreps Sophomore All-American after accumulating 1,964 rushing yards and 31 touchdowns on 168 carries.
If Alabama does come out on top in this battle, Crowell will be a huge addition to its recruiting class, which already has 10 total commitments, and as a group, ranks No. 5 in the SEC and No. 11 in the nation.
It would also be the second running back the Crimson Tide land in the cycle, as they already received a commitment from three-star Javari Barnett out of Tampa, Florida, on Monday
Related: Nation’s No. 1 LB Sends Texas, Steve Sarkisian Clear Message After Official Visit
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 25, 2025, where it first appeared.
James Johnson commits to Georgia football
James Johnson, the nation’s No. 1 defensive lineman in the 2026 class, recently committed to the Georgia Bulldogs. The 6-foot-2, 285-pound force from Northwestern High School in Cape Coral, Florida, selected Georgia over powerhouse programs such as Florida, Florida State, and Texas. This decision adds star power to a burgeoning Georgia recruiting class. It marks a remarkable week for Georgia, marking their sixth commitment since Monday. Each pick has added depth and talent across multiple positions, signaling momentum and a keen focus on addressing key roster needs. Johnson joins a deep pool of defensive talent that will bolster the rotation and push starters to elevate their game. He joins a recruiting class surging toward number one in the country and letting everyone know that Kirby Smart and company will have no problem staying relevant.
BREAKING: Elite 2026 DL James “JJ” Johnson has Committed to Georgia, he tells me for @on3recruits The 6’3 285 DL from Fort Myers, FL chose the Bulldogs over Texas, Florida, & Miami He’s ranked as the No. 1 DL in 2026 (per On3) “Go Dawgs🐶”https://t.co/VeNJnkq7iH pic.twitter.com/CLvVbAYTTl — Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) June 28, 2025
At 6-foot-2, 285 pounds, Johnson offers an ideal blend of size, strength, and athleticism that has drawn national attention. Rated by On3 as the top defensive lineman in the country for 2026—and the 15th-best prospect overall—Johnson projects as a disruptive presence on the interior of Georgia’s defensive front. His skill set includes violent hands, powerful leg drive, and surprising twitch at the snap, with scouts envisioning him as a future force in the SEC and beyond.
Johnson’s choice marks a remarkable week for Georgia, marking their sixth commitment since Monday. Beginning on Monday, the Bulldogs secured one commitment per day, culminating in Johnson’s announcement today. Each pick has added depth and talent across multiple positions, signaling momentum and a keen focus on addressing key roster needs.
This commitment brings Georgia to 24 pledges in the 2026 class—already ranked third nationally before today’s update. With Johnson joining the fold, the class only strengthens, adding balance and star potential to an already loaded recruiting board.
For Georgia defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann and the Bulldogs’ coaching staff, landing Johnson is a significant coup. The Bulldogs have a well-earned reputation for developing defensive linemen into elite college players and NFL prospects. Johnson’s decision to don the iconic red and black speaks volumes about the program’s recruiting pull.
Johnson’s selection didn’t come lightly. Gauging interest from top-tier programs like Florida, Florida State, and Texas, he ultimately chose Georgia—a decision underpinned by the school’s consistent track record of molding blue-chip defensive talent and competing for national titles. The recruiting material and film show Johnson as a motor-driven interior disruptor who excels at stopping the run and generating interior pressure.
His commitment sends a message: Georgia is building one of the premier defensive fronts in the nation, not just in the SEC but across college football. Johnson joins a deep pool of defensive talent that will bolster the rotation and push starters to elevate their game.
In summary, James Johnson is a premier talent whose commitment to Georgia represents a significant recruiting victory. By choosing the Bulldogs over other major programs, he joins a recruiting class surging toward number one in the country and letting everyone know that Kirby Smart and company will have no problem staying relevant and contending in the revenue-sharing era.
Nation’s No. 1 LB Commits to SEC Powerhouse
Nation’s No. 1 LB Commits to SEC Powerhouse. Xavier Griffin joins cornerback Jorden Edmonds as the second five-star recruit in the Tide’s 2026 recruiting class. The Tide will start the 2025 season on the road against the Florida State Seminoles on August 30. They only won nine games last season after head coach Kalen DeBoer took over following Nick Saban’s retirement and are looking to carry that momentum into July.
The Alabama Crimson Tide got an elite recruit on Sunday.
Five-star linebacker Xavier Griffin announced his commitment to the Tide via On3’s Hayes Fawcett. He committed to the Tide over the Texas Longhorns, Ohio State Buckeyes, and Florida State Seminoles.
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“TGBTG Roll Tide!!” Griffin told Fawcett.
Griffin joins cornerback Jorden Edmonds as the second five-star recruit in the Tide’s 2026 recruiting class. They now have 14 total commits and the eighth-best recruiting class in the country, per 247Sports.
As for Griffin’s individual rating, he is the top-ranked recruit in his home state (Georgia) and the top linebacker recruit in the nation, per 247Sports. He is also the eighth-best overall recruit in the country.
Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer looks on before running onto the field before a game against the Michigan Wolverines at Raymond James Stadium.Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
The Tide have been on a recruiting heater over the last week and are looking to carry that momentum into July. It’s a popular time for players to commit to a school since they have taken a lot of official visits to schools.
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Kalen DeBoer is going into his second season as head coach and wants to get the Tide back to competing for national championships. They only won nine games last season after DeBoer took over following Nick Saban’s retirement.
The Tide will start the 2025 season on the road against the Florida State Seminoles on August 30. Their first SEC game will follow on September 27 against the Georgia Bulldogs after games against the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks and the Wisconsin Badgers.
Kickoff for the August 30 game will be at 3:30 p.m. ET.
Related: Alabama Dealt Unfortunate Recruiting News on Saturday
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 29, 2025, where it first appeared.
Source: https://athlonsports.com/college/alabama-crimson-tide/nations-no-1-lb-commits-to-sec-powerhouse