Alabama beats out Texas and Ohio State for 5-star as Kalen DeBoer continues to flex

Kalen DeBoer and Alabama's hot streak on the recruiting trail continued on Sunday as the Crimson Tide landed its ninth commitment of June, and its second 5-star prospect in the last 72 hours, when LB Xavier Griffin announced his commitment to Alabama over Texas, Ohio State, Georgia, and Florida State.

Alabama had been seen as the leader in the clubhouse for Griffin, who grew up a fan of the Crimson Tide, since he decommitted from USC last month. But this one wasn't easy, and DeBoer and the coaching staff had to hold off massive pushes from the Longhorns and Buckeyes to seal the deal.

Griffin took two more official visits after he visited Alabama over the weekend of June 6th, which led to anxiety for Tide fans after he had been trending to the Crimson Tide since he came back on the market. But Alabama always felt like home, and now DeBoer and company just landed a massive commitment and a versatile weapon for the defense for years to come.

Griffin is a consensus 5-star recruit and the No. 27 overall player in the 247 composite. He becomes the third - and not the final - 5-star to commit to the Crimson Tide in the 2026 class, joining CB Jorden Edmonds, and recently committed RB EJ Crowell.

Alabama remains in a good spot to potentially add three more 5-star recruits to this class: WR Cederian Morgan (announcing July 2nd), S Jireh Edwards (announcing July 5th), and EDGE Anthony 'Tank' Jones (TBD).

RIP to the "Husky Harsin" narrative.

Xavier Griffin will be a Jihaad Campbell-like weapon for Alabama's defense

Undeniably one of the most attractive pitches Griffin heard on the recruiting trail was Alabama's plan to utilize him similarly to how they utilized Jihaad Campbell, who was drafted in the first-round of the 2025 NFL Draft by the Eagles just a few months ago.

That was Griffin's player comp, according to 247, and he'll be the type of swiss army knife for Kane Wommack's defense that can elevate it to the next level. Griffin will likely split time between being an on and off-ball LB, much like Campbell did for the Crimson Tide last season.

He's got the sideline-to-sideline speed, the ability to fill run-gaps, cover out of the backfield, and get after the QB.

Injuries on the edge forced Wommack to use Campbell as more of a specialty edge rusher in obvious passing down situations, and the amount of success that brought the Tide's defense undoubtedly stuck in his mind for future use.

Alabama might not have a guy that versatile on the 2025 roster, but Griffin will change that in 2026. With Alabama losing its top three LBs after this season - Deontae Lawson, Justin Jefferson, and Nikhai Hill-Green - there will be an early opportunity for Griffin to see the field quickly.