2027 Alabama commit makes incredible jump in updated Rivals rankings

It was a busy start to the week for Alabama’s 2027 recruiting class. The Crimson Tide got a prediction to land five-star QB Elijah Haven, added a commitment from four-star QB Trent Seaborn, and lost four-star athlete Alexander Ward. So, it might be understandable that a big-time rankings update got overlooked. 

Also on Monday, Rivals updated its 2027 recruiting class rankings, and an Alabama offensive line commit made a huge jump. Jatori Williams was previously unranked in the Rivals 300. Now, as one of the biggest risers in the update, he slots in at No. 150. 

The four-star from Phenix City, Alabama, committed to the Tide on September 29 and is one of four 2027 Alabama commits. The 6-foot-5, 320-pound high school junior is the No. 100 player in the country by 247Sports Composite Rankings. 

Courtney Morgan and Kalen DeBoer need to keep making strides in the trenches

Year 2 of the Kalen DeBoer era in Tuscaloosa has gone well so far. The Tide are No. 4 in the country with a 6-1 record and are the favorites to win the SEC title. Still, the team has significant deficiencies in the trenches. 

Alabama has struggled to find a reliable running game, ranking 127th in the country in rushing success rate. Offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb has found creative solutions to ease the burden on redshirt junior QB Ty Simpson and jumpstart the ground attack, but long-term, a dominant interior offensive line would be reliable. 

Grubb has leaned into the talent that Alabama has at wide receiver, including a steady diet of screens and jet sweeps to Ryan Williams and Germie Bernard, and has consistently run behind star left tackle Kadyn Proctor in big spots. Running between the tackles, though, has not been nearly as fruitful. Proctor has even gotten opportunities to carry the ball on direct snaps and has caught a screen pass for a first down. 

Proctor will be off to the NFL next season, so the Tide won’t have that easy button for short-yardage situations. 

DeBoer and general manager Courtney Morgan have already begun investing in the offensive line. True freshman Michael Carroll has gotten opportunities at right tackle this season, and the 2026 class features four offensive linemen.

Williams’ boost in the rankings is a good sign for the future of the interior offensive line, but even for teams with elite offensive lines, the work in the trenches is never done.