We have seen recruits hyped up when they are younger, especially in recent years in cases like Alabama Football's Dylan Moses who was offered in 8th grade and went on to successfully play for Nick Saban. Trent Seaborn, a quarterback from Thompson High School started varsity as an 8th grader and started turning heads immediately.
Fast forward to today, an upcoming edge rusher from the 2027 class, Ba'Roc Willis, just earned an offer from Alabama. During a recent conversation, Willis told me he has been camping with Alabama since the 7th grade and credits his trainer, Coach L, for his help and progress. "Coach L called me and told me Coach Roach offered, it was great!".
I later on asked Willis what it felt like to be offered by one of the best teams in the country, and Ba'Roc replied "It feels great, most of my family are Bama fans, and I grew up watching them. My big homies Jeremiah Beaman and Sterling Dixon committed to Bama. We have had family and close friends play there, so it's overall just great."
Willis has something that stands out already at his age that you cannot teach--size. In just the ninth grade, he's already 6'3, 220 pounds. This is someone I would definitely recommend keeping an eye on as the time goes on.
When asked who he compares his game to, Willis responded emphatically, saying "Micah Parsons!!! He got a bag of moves and fast like me, I might be faster though". We all know Parsons is one of the best defensive players in the entire NFL, so if theres any chance of there being simliarities there, Nick Saban might have found another stud. Willis currently holds offers from Ole Miss, Auburn, and now Alabama. While there's plenty of time in his recruitment, its a good time sign that Bama has offered early and has Crimson Tide connections.
Note: Data including sizes and highlights via On3.