5-star Alabama freshman already going through tremendous body transformation

Linebacker Xavier Griffin is one of the diamonds of Alabama's highly-touted 2026 high school recruiting class, and it looks like the five-star recruit is doing whatever it takes to make an immediate impact next season.

According to Griffin's mother, the blue-chip prospect has been in the weight room and in the cafeteria, putting on pounds of muscle.

It's not unusual for a young player to put on some considerable weight and muscle in their first offseason in a major program. Many of them are training and eating in a much more purposeful way than they ever have before and doing it under the watchful eye of trainers and nutrition specialists.

But 18 pounds of muscle in a month? That's pretty incredible. 

Xavier Griffin is getting ready for the 2026 season

Griffin is not only the highest-rated player in the Crimson Tide's No. 2-rated high school class (according to 247Sports), but he's also coming in during a time when Alabama has to improve its physicality on defense in Kalen DeBoer's third season.

As the 2025 season rests in hindsight, it's become clear that DeBoer's team probably overachieved given the fact that they just weren't very tough on defense. Alabama was not just beaten by Georgia in the SEC Championship Game and Indiana in that Rose Bowl blowout, the Crimson Tide were beaten up and pushed around. It was shocking for a program known for its ability to physically dominate the top programs.

The good news is Griffin is walking into a pretty deep group of outside linebackers and there's enough talent and versatility among the group where guys will be moved around to allow them all to see the field. It's exciting news that he is already zoned in and getting himself mentally and physically ready to compete in the spring and give coaches and teammates a taste of what they can expect in the future.