Alabama lands underrated 2026 commitment with potentially major ripple effects

Alabama added a late commitment to its heralded 2026 recruiting class on Tuesday that could have a major impact on its pursuit of one of the top prospects in the 2027 class.

3-star ATH Amari Sabb, the younger brother of Alabama starting safety Keon Sabb, committed to the Crimson Tide on Tuesday, joining Alabama's 2026 class that ranks No. 2 in the 247 composite.

At 5-foot-9 and 170 pounds, Sabb is undersized for the SEC, but he could carve out a role for the Crimson Tide quickly as a kick/punt returner. He's likely to play WR for Alabama, but it'll take some time in the strength and conditioning program before he's ready for gameday reps at that position.

But Sabb is a versatile player who was a jack-of-all-trades for his high school team in Glassboro, New Jersey.

While Sabb ranks as just a 3-star and is No. 1180 in the composite rankings, his commitment could have a bigger impact than you might immediately realize.

Amari Sabb's commitment could have a big impact on Alabama's pursuit of his brother

With two Sabb brothers in Tuscaloosa now, you have to like Alabama's chances of potentially adding a third. 2027 5-star WR Xavier Sabb is the youngest of the three Sabb brothers and is one of the most sought-after recruits in the country.

It appears to be a four-way battle for Xavier Sabb, with Alabama competing directly with Oregon, Notre Dame, and Nebraska for his services. A family feel in Tuscaloosa has to give Kalen DeBoer and his staff a pretty substantial advantage, though it won't be the only thing on his mind when he makes his college decision.

But Alabama just put itself in a much better position for one of the prizes of the 2027 recruiting class. And with the roster expansion to 105 scholarships from the old days of 85, taking a swing on a high-level athlete like Amari Sabb makes sense anyway. It makes even more sense if you can improve your standing with one of the best high school players in the country.