It has already been a good week for Alabama football, with Kalen DeBoer and his staff landing commitments from DL JJ Finch, RB Javari Barnett, and S Rihyael Kelley. Those were just the appetizers for a feast of a main course heading toward the Capstone.
One of the Crimson Tide's top targets in the 2026 class is 5-star RB Ezavier Crowell, a Jackson, AL native. Crowell was originally a 2027 recruit, but reclassified into the 2026 class. He is scheduled to announce his commitment on Thursday, choosing between Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, and Texas. According to a prediction by an Alabama insider, Crowell is set to choose the Crimson Tide:
Class of 2026 5 ⭐️ RB Ezavier Crowell has been predicted to Alabama by @BOL_On3 🐘🐘#RollTide pic.twitter.com/ffxFY5hccI
— SPG (@SPG9814) June 24, 2025
Crowell has been considered an Alabama lean for some time, but he took official visits to the other three finalists, and they all pushed for the coveted running back. Texas has seemed like the biggest competition to lure Crowell away, but DeBoer and staff getting the final visit last weekend to make their pitch looks to have pushed Alabama over the top.
He has visited Tuscaloosa more than anywhere else. On3 has him listed for nine total visits to Alabama, with Auburn with the next most at five, and Georgia with two. His comfort level in Tuscaloosa has been key in his recruitment.
Crowell would give Alabama an impressive two-back class
The coaching staff is high on 3-star RB Javari Barnett, who flipped from Illinois to Alabama on Monday. Landing Crowell to go along with him would give the Crimson Tide a nice haul at RB in the 2026 class.
Alabama has two backs on the 2025 roster who will exhaust their eligibility: seniors Jam Miller and Dre Washington. That's not to mention the possibility of a back or two choosing to enter the Transfer Portal following the season. That's always a concern.
Alabama signed one of the top running backs in the country last season in 4-star AK Dear. Landing Crowell and Barnett in this cycle would give Alabama impressive young depth in the RB room to, hopefully, go along with veterans such as Richard Young and Daniel Hill.
Crowell is one of three high valued in-state targets Alabama is aggressively pursuing. They already have a commitment from 4-star in-state CB Zyan Gibson, who announced on Monday night that he would be shutting his recruitment down.
Alabama is in the mix for two other in-state five-stars: WR Cederian Morgan and EDGE Anthony 'Tank' Jones. Morgan is scheduled to announce his commitment on July 2nd. Alabama is the heavy favorite for Morgan and has received several predictions to land the elite, playmaking WR.
Jones' commitment is more up in the air, but if Alabama can come away with the top three players in he state in this cycle, it would be a heck of a coup by DeBoer, Courtney Morgan, and the rest of the coaching staff.