Alabama Begins its 2026 Class with Georgia Offensive Lineman

The Crimson Tide makes a mountain its first member of the 2026 class.

Photo Courtesy @zykiehelton52 on Twitter

The Alabama football program is having an excellent Sunday as the Crimson Tide picked up its second commitment of the day in class of 2026 offensive lineman Zykie Helton.

Helton, out of Carrollton, Ga., was offered by the Crimson Tide in June and didn't take long for the mammoth lineman to decide to roll with the Tide.

The 6-3, 300 pound lineman is the first player from the 2026 class to commit to the Tide. He's being recruiting by Alabama offensive line coach Eric Wolford.

“There’s no other college I want to go to,” Helton told On3sports. “I feel like with me going into my sophomore year, I feel like I’m the best offensive lineman in 2026. I just went ahead and made my decision.”

While still young, the rising sophomore already held offers from major programs like Georgia, Texas A&M, Auburn and others.

Helton appears to be a long time Alabama fan as his Instagram (@zykiehelton) shows numerous photos donning Crimson Tide gear dating back to 2018.  

His commitment could create a ripple effect as Helton is teammates with class of 2024 tight end Caleb Odom and class of 2026 quarterback Julian Lewis. 

Odom, a four-star prospect, is committing on July 15 and the Crimson Tide is among his top schools.

The Carrollton Trojans went 12-2 last season, losing to Buford in the Georgia state playoffs.

Alabama is hoping to keep the successful day rolling with one more commitment on Sunday. 2024 four-star cornerback Zabien Brown is choosing between Alabama, Southern Cal and Ohio State at 4 p.m.

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