Fresh off a 350-yard rushing performance with four touchdowns in the state playoffs on Friday night, Alabama RB commitment EJ Crowell has finally gotten what he deserves from the recruiting industry.
Rivals has somehow kept Crowell as a 4-star all season long despite a dominant season for the future Crimson Tide star. On Monday, Rivals finally gave Crowell the bump he long deserved, moving him to a 5-star and the No. 19 overall prospect in the country:
🚨NEW🚨 Alabama RB commit Ezavier Crowell ranks No. 19 and 5-stars in the updated 2026 Rivals300🐘https://t.co/zIAeRoYymd pic.twitter.com/GpLT63C9a3
— Rivals (@Rivals) November 17, 2025
Crowell has long been considered one of the top prospects in the country, but that was for the 2027 class. He took a fall in the rankings when he reclassified into the 2026 class, but Rivals has finally seen what has been so obvious to everyone else: Crowell is one of the best high school football players in the country, regardless of classification.
Crowell has set a career-high in rushing yards in what should be his junior season of high school. After rushing for 1700 yards as a freshman and 1900 yards as a sophomore, Crowell has now surpassed 2000 rushing yards this season. And he's done it in only 11 games. He's averaging an absurd 13.7 yards per carry and nearly 184 rushing yards per game for Jackson High School.
Crowell committed to Alabama in June and has never wavered from his decision. He announced a few weeks back that his recruitment was officially shut down and he would be signing with the Crimson Tide next month.
Don't expect him to wait long before he makes an impact in Tuscaloosa.
EJ Crowell should be an instant impact RB for Alabama next season
Alabama has needed a difference-maker in the RB room. Redshirt freshman Daniel Hill might be that guy, but he has limitations with his burst that will prevent him from ever being a home run hitter. He's super solid, however, and should supplant Jam Miller as the Tide's RB1 moving forward the rest of the season.
He might only hold that title until Crowell gets to campus. Because even as a freshman, Crowell is too talented to sit on the bench and should be an instant impact player for Alabama's offense next season.
He's got the power, the size, and the speed to be one of the top running backs in college football right away.
Alabama's running game has been a disaster this season. They need a dude in that room. Crowell is that and then some, and it won't take him long to separate himself on the depth chart in Tuscaloosa.