Alabama Crimson Tide Recruiting: Commitment Tracker

A look at who is committed to the Crimson Tide for the signing classes of 2023 and 2024.

Class of 2023

High Schools (23)

1. Keon Keeley, Edge, 6-6, 242, Tampa, Fla., SI99 No. 3
2. Caleb Downs, S, 6-0, 185, Hoschton, Ga., SI99 No. 6
3. Kadyn Proctor, OT, 6-6, 330, Des Moines, Iowa, SI99 No. 9  
4. Richard Young, RB, 5-11, 200, Lehigh Acres, Fla., SI99 No. 25
5. Jahlil Hurley, CB, 6-2, 170, Florends, Ala., SI99 No. 32
6. Jalen Hale, WR, 6-2, 175, Longview, Texas, No. 49
7. Dylan Lonergan, QB, 6-2, 215, Snellville, Ga., SI99, No. 53
8. Tony Mitchell, S, 6-2, 180, Alabaster, Ala., SI99 No. 64
9. Justice Haynes, RB, 5-10, 200, Buford, Ga., SI99, No. 73
10. Wilkin Formby, OT, 6-7, 295, Tuscaloosa, Ala., SI99 No. 92
11. Jordan Renaud, DT, 6-5, 250, Tyler, Texas  
12. Eli Holstein, QB, 6-4 222, Zachary, La.
13. Hunter Osborne, DL, 6-4, 260, Trussville, Ala. 
14. Olaus Alinen, OT, 6-6, 315, Windsor, Conn.
15. Ty Lockwood, TE, 6-5, 225, Thompson Station, Tenn. 
16. Yhonzae Pierre, OLB, 6-4, 200, Eufala, Ala. 
17. Myles McVay, OT, 6-6, 358, East St. Louis, Ill.
18. Edric Hill, DL, 6-3, 290, Kansas City, Mo. 
19. Cole Adams, WR, 5-10, 180, Owasso, Okla.
20. RyQueze McElderry, G, 6-3, 340, Anniston, Ala. 
21. Brayson Hubbard, S, 6-2, 190, Pascagoula, Miss. 
22. Conor Talty, K, 6-1, 195, Chicago, Ill. 
23. Jaren Hamilton, WR, 6-1, 188, Gainesville, Fla. 

Junior Colleges (2)

1. Malik Benson, WR, 6-1, 185, Lansing, Kan./Hutchinson CC
2. Justin Jefferson, LB, 6-1, 215, 6-1 215, Memphis, Tenn./Pearl River CC

The Players 

Cole Adams, wide receiver

Commitment date: June 29, 2022

Cole Adams became Alabama's first receiver in the 2023 class. The 5-foot-10, 180-pound playmaker will be a welcomed addition to quarterback commit Eli Holstein as the two could form a nice partnership in the coming years.

Adams, an Owasso, Okla., native, clocked a 10.65 time in the 100-meter dash and is coming off a junior season in which he recorded 55 receptions for 913 yards and eight touchdowns. He also scored three touchdowns on kickoff returns and another on a punt return.

Olaus Alinen, tackle 

Commitment date: July 22, 2022

The Finland native chose the Crimson Tide over a top five that also included Georgia, Miami, Ohio State and Oregon.

"Alabama's program is the most proven one out there," Alinen said on CBS Sports HQ. "It was my dream school when I started following college football." 

The 6-foot-6, 315-pound lineman is the son of Klaus Alinen, who played for Berlin in NFL Europe and spent a year on the Atlanta Falcons practice squad.

Malik Benson, wide receiver 

Commitment date: July 5, 2022

Benson is considered by many to be the nation’s top junior college prospect. He dominated during his freshman junior college season last year, leading Hutchinson with 43 receptions for 1,229 yards and 11 touchdowns over 11 games. 

The 6-foot, 185-pound playmaker fits the mold of Alabama’s recent speedy receivers and has clocked a 10.44 time in the 100-meter dash as well as a 21.38 time at 200 meters.

“I think Alabama is Wide Receiver U. I feel like every year they produce the best receivers and they always have the top dudes. It was a no-brainer. As one of the top JUCO receivers, that’s a place I’ve got to go.”

Caleb Downs, safety 

Commitment date: July 27, 2022

Downs is rated as the top safety and No. 12 overall player in the nation, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings. He's also widely considered to be the top player in the state of Georgia.

Downs is coming off a junior season in which he recorded 77 tackles, 11 pass breakups and five interceptions, including two returned for touchdowns.

“Downs is one of the highest-floor prospects in the class of 2023, regardless of position,” Sports Illustrated’s director of recruiting, John Garcia Jr. said. “As a do-it-all defensive back, he brings positionless instincts, twitch and ball skills to the position with a scheme versatile impact fit to boot. Few prospects in the class are as polished as Downs is overall, with a high football IQ also on his side.”

Wilkin Formby, offensive tackle

Commitment date: June 20, 2022

The offensive line is a priority for Alabama in this year's recruiting class, and the Crimson Tide got off to a good start at reloading at the position with the addition of Wilkin Formby. The Tuscaloosa, Ala., shot up the recruiting ranks following a breakout junior season at Northridge High School. Formby, 6-foot-7, 295 pounds, still has to polish parts of his game but will offer a nice blend of size and athleticism for the Crimson Tide in the trenches. 

Formby will continue a family legacy as his grandfather, Rod Wilkin, was a punter for the Crimson Tide under legendary head coach Paul "Bear" Bryant from 1968-69. 

Jalen Hale, wide receiver

Commitment date: Sept. 21, 2022

Hale was widely regarded as being one of the top remaining playmakers still available. He was No. 49 in the preseason SI99 rankings, and seventh wide receiver listed. 

In short, Hale's a playmaker with a ton of potential. Standing 6-2 and weighing 175 pounds, Hale is a three-sport athlete in basketball, football, and track, running a blazing fast 22.68 200-meter dash as a sophomore in 2020.

In his junior season on the football field, Hale has named a first-team District 7-5A selection, hauling in 50 catches for 1,154 yards and 14 touchdowns. For his career, he has 96 catches for 2,017 yards and 27 touchdowns in three varsity seasons.

Jaren Hamilton, wide receiver

Commitment date: Nov. 28, 2022

A track athlete, Hamilton possesses the deep ball potential to take the top off the defense at the next level. Hamilton is a little on the raw side in terms of his development, but the scouting reports say he has a lot of potential, it's just a matter of refining the skills on the gridiron.

Justice Haynes, running back

Commitment date: July 17, 2022

The consensus five-start prospect is the son of former Georgia running back Verron Haynes, who was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fifth round of the 2002 NFL Draft.

Haynes is rated as the No. 4 running back and No. 50 overall player in the 2023 class, according to the 247Sports Composite. He is coming off a junior season at Blessed Trinity High School where he rushed for 2,375 and 29 touchdowns while averaging 8.6 yards per carry. Over his three seasons on the varsity level, Haynes has ran for 5,879 yards and 72 touchdowns.

"Haynes is a three-down back with the physical build to play SEC football right now," Sports Illustrated’s director of recruiting, John Garcia Jr. told BamaCentral. "There is vision, balance, explosion and an all-around skill set that may be reminiscent of the 'workhorse' Alabama running backs of yesteryear. Throw in NFL bloodlines and considerable production against very strong competition and the fit in Tuscaloosa May not take long to see on the field itself."

Edric Hill, defensive lineman 

Commitment date: Aug. 22, 2022

Hill has great potential as a disruptor, showcasing his ability to use his hands and get off the ball and into the backfield. The technique — combined with with his 6-foot-3-inch, 290 pound frame — will make it difficult to block him in 1-on-1 situations.

There are two main factors to keep an eye on regarding Hill's transition to the next level. First, not surprising for any recruit, is how he will adjust to the strength and speed of the college game. Hill is more technique-oriented, but his size alone can often lead to mismatches before he even engages. Competing against his fellow recruiting classmates on the offensive line (all but one are at least 6-foot-6) will help Hill refine his skills.

Eli Holstein, quarterback

Commitment date: May 24, 2022

Alabama added a high-profile quarterback in from the state of Louisiana, just not the one that had been stealing all the headlines in this year's cycle. While Eli Holstein doesn't come with the same hype Arch Manning, the Zachary, La., brings an elite skill set to Tuscaloosa.

During his junior season, Holstein completed 65.2% of his passes for 3,228 yards and 30 touchdowns with six interceptions while leading Zachary High School to a 15-0 record and a Louisiana Class 5A title. The 6-foot-4, 222-pound quarterback also set the SPARQ score record for quarterbacks at the Elite 11 camp in Las Vegas, posting a 133.56. During that event, he recorded a 4.64 time and a 4.19 time in the shuttle. He also threw a 45.5 power ball and posted a 38.3-inch vertical.

Brayson Hubbard, safety

Commitment date: June 26, 2022

After earning an offer from Alabama on June 10, Brayson Hubbard wasted no time jumping on board, committing to the Crimson Tide 16 days later. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound playmaker has served as his team's quarterback over the past two years but is being recruited to play safety at Alabama.

Hubbard, a native of Pascagoula, Miss., earned MHSAA Mr. Football for Class 6A last season, completing 69% of his passes for 2,069 yards with 30 touchdowns and three interceptions while adding 1,258 yards and 20 more touchdowns on the ground. Before moving to quarterback during his sophomore year, he began his high school career as a defensive back, tallying 15 tackles, three pass deflections and a sack over five games.

Jahlil Hurley, cornerback

Commitment date: Feb 22, 2022

After delaying his college decision a month, Jahlil Hurley became Alabama’s second 2023 commit when he chose the Crimson Tide over offers from Auburn, Georgia, Michigan, and Texas A&M among others. The Florence, Ala., native is viewed as one of the top prospects in the nation and was one of Alabama’s biggest targets in the current cycle.

Hurley, 6-foot-2, 170 pounds, has the length and athleticism Nick Saban covets at the cornerback position. That being said, he is a willing tackler and has the versatility to move to safety or inside to nickelback if called to do so at the next level. Hurley plays on both sides of the ball for Florence High School and also excels on the basketball court. In addition to his defensive skills, he could possible contribute in the return game for the Crimson Tide.

Justin Jefferson, linebacker

Commitment date: June 28, 2022

Alabama will need to replace starting linebacker Henry To'oTo'o next offseason. It made a big step toward doing that in adding Pearl River (Miss.) Community College linebacker Justin Jefferson. 

The 6-foot-2, 210-pound defender has been reportedly clocked with a sub-4.4 time in the 40-yard dash and is coming off a freshman season in which he recorded 53 tackles and 13 stops for a loss over nine games. 

Keon Keeley, edge 

Commitment date: Dec. 12, 2022

Keeley, who had been committed to Notre Dame before the last coaching change, is considered the top edge rusher in the 2023 class. At 6-foot-6 and 242 pounds, he has great measurables to complement the speed.

This was a major land for head coach Nick Saban and Alabama football, not only because Keeley is one of the top prospects in the country with NFL potential, but he essentially plays the same position as current Crimson Tide linebacker Will Anderson Jr., who is projected to be one of the first players off the board in the 2023 NFL Draft after completing a decorated career. 

Ty Lockwood, tight end 

Commitment date: Aug. 2, 2022

According to the recruiting services, Lockwood's the best tight end prospect Alabama's landed since O.J. Howard in 2013. The 6-5 Lockwood is listed as the No. 9 tight end in the country and No. 2 player in Tennessee, according to 247Sports Composite.

He caught 42 passes for 462 yards with two touchdowns in 2021. In two seasons at Independence High School in Thompson's Station, Lockwood had 85 receptions for 1,068 yards with five touchdowns.

A year ago he was the first commitment in Ohio State's Class of 2023. But when the Buckeyes added another tight end he visited Alabama and quickly flipped.

Dylan Lonergan, quarterback

Commitment date: July 11, 2022

Lonergan offers dual-threat ability at the quarterback position. During his junior season last year, he led Brookwood High School to the Georgia 7A quarterfinals, throwing for 32 touchdowns and 3,392 yards with just three interceptions while adding 600 yards and seven more scores on the ground.

The 6-foot-2, 215-pound right-hander is rated as the No. 9 passer in the nation, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings, and is also a star pitcher, which has limiting his recruiting process. Sports Illustrated’s director of recruiting John Garcia Jr. told BamaCentral he believes Lonergan’s stock would have risen even higher had he been able to compete in events such as the Elite 11 Finals earlier this month.

“I think he’s as intriguing, athletically and arm-wise, of a quarterback as there is in this class,” Garcia said. “This class is as loaded as we’ve seen at the very top, and there’s a lot of depth thereafter. Lonergan is one who should be viewed very highly in that group. … He’s a very good athlete. I think it gets overshadowed because his arm is so strong and the baseball prowess is there, but he’s actually a very good athlete who’s mobile in the pocket and makes plays out of the pocket. Then, as you can imagine, with that baseball background he can manipulate his arm angle and throw in some of those modern ways that we see at the highest level.”

Ryqueze McElderry, offensive lineman

Commitment date: July 4, 2022

Two days after decommitting from Georgia, Ryqueze McElderry became Alabama’s second offensive line commit in the 2023 class. The Anniston, Ala., native grew up rooting for the Crimson Tide and called Alabama his dream school, stating his recruitment is now fully settled.

“I’m committed now, and it’s over with,” McElderry said. “I’m on schedule to enroll early, and I can’t wait to get there. Roll damn Tide!”

McElderry, 6-foot-3, 340 pounds, will play guard at Alabama and should provide plenty of push in the trenches for the Crimson Tide in the coming years.

“They see a lot of power in the way I play, and they say I’ve got really good feet,” McElderry said. “They need somebody on the inside to seal blocks and just clothesline people. Coach Saban was saying he loves the way I just power past people, and he needs that in his run game.”

Myles McVay, offensive tackle 

Commitment date: Aug. 11, 2022

What can we say, he's huge. 

Myles McVay is listed as 6 foot 6, 358 pounds, out of East St. Louis in Illinois. He's considered a consensus four-star prospect who has good feet, a key attribute for successful tackles.

"The reason why I chose Alabama, it just felt like home," McVay said during his announcement ceremony. 

Tony Mitchell, cornerback

Commitment date: June 26, 2022

Alabama continued to take advantage of a loaded in-state cornerback class with the addition of Tony Mitchell. The 6-foot-2, 180-pound defender is the Crimson Tide's second five-star defensive back in next year's class, joining fellow in-state talent Jahlil Hurley.

Mitchell has the versatility to play sever spots in the secondary but appears to be best suited for the Star position at Alabama. He currently plays cornerback for Thompson High School where he has helped the Warriors to three straight Alabama state titles. Over that span, Mitchell has recorded seven interceptions and 23 pass breakups to go with 201 tackles and three forced fumbles. He finished his junior season with two interceptions and 11 pass breakups along with 55 tackles, including four for a loss.

Hunter Osborne, defensive lineman 

Commitment date: Aug. 1, 2022

Listed as 6-4, 260 pounds, he's considered a consensus four-star prospect. It doesn't hurt that he grew up as a Crimson Tide fan. 

Osborne earned second-team all-state honors from the Alabama Sports Writers Association after recording 74 tackles, including 10 for a loss and 5.5 sacks, to go with 16 quarterback hurries and nine pass breakups during his junior season last year. He is rated as the No. 113 overall player and No. 18 defensive lineman in the 2023 class, according to the 247Sports Composite.

“Honestly, I tell every coach it doesn’t matter where I line up,” Osborne said. “Wherever they see me best at and where will help me and the benefit on the field, that’s fine with me.”

Yhonzae Pierre, edge rusher

Commitment date: April 14, 2022

Yhonzae Pierre became Alabama's third commit of the 2023 class and the first of what could be a talented string of pass rushers to join the Crimson Tide in the current cycle. The Eufaula, Ala., native is the cousin of former Alabama great Courtney Upshaw, and the potential to add a similar pass rush to the Crimson Tide.

Pierre, a four-star recruit, is rated as the No. 37 defensive lineman and No. 248 overall player in the nation, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound defender recorded 55 tackles, including 16 stops for a loss and seven sacks, during his junior season last year.

“[Saban] likes me in the three-technique, five-technique and dropping back in coverage,” Pierre told BamaCentral. “I’m comfortable with all that. I can do it all. I can play tight end, too.”

Kadyn Proctor, offensive tackle

Commitment date: Dec. 20, 2022  

Kadyn Proctor, the offensive tackle in this year's recruiting cycle, and the No. 9 player in the nation according to the SI99, flipped his commitment the day before the early signing period began, from his home-state Iowa Hawkeyes.

Proctor, a 6-foot-7, 330-pound tackle from Des Moines was committed to play for the Hawkeyes for months. He made an unofficial visit to Tuscaloosa the weekend before announcing his decision. 

Alabama had numerous reserve offensive linemen transfer out, and another tackle de-commit right before Proctor said yes to the Crimson Tide. 

Jordan Renaud, defensive tackle

Commitment date: Sept. 19, 2022

Powerful in close quarters on the line, Renaud is known for his stellar hand-fighting skills and big hits. Standing at 6-foot-5-inches tall and weighing in at 250 pounds as a senior, he possesses an above-average frame. While his length is not a strength given his height, he has a solid base and is extremely athletic for his size. For example, last spring he participated in track and field, posting times of 11.82 and 12.06 in the 100-meter dash and a 34.3 throw in shot put.

Renaud attended Palmetto High School in Florida for his freshman and sophomore seasons, where he was a key contributor as the team made it to the 6A state semifinals in 2020. After transferring to Tyler Legacy in Texas, he played in 12 games as a junior in 2021, totaling 66 tackles with eight for a loss, two sacks, one interception, one forced fumble, one blocked field goal and a blocked punt. 

Conor Talty, Kicker 

Commitment date: July 20, 2022

Talty, the No. 2 kicker in the nation according to Chris Sailer Kicking, converted 9 of 13 field-goal attempts and 51 of 52 extra-point tries last season. 

"Conor is a big-time high school kicking and punting prospect," noted kicking guru Chris Sailer wrote on Talty's assessment. "He is a great looking athlete with a live leg. Conor does an excellent job on field goals. He gets the ball up well off the ground and easily has 55+ yard range. His kickoffs are strong. He drives the ball 65+ yards, with 4.0+ hang time. Also a very talented punter. He has all the tools to be a dominant D1 Punter. Conor is a competitor who thrives under pressure. He has a bright D1 college future with continued hard work. Conor is a fine young man who is a pleasure to work with. Look for him to dominate his senior season picking up multiple D1 offers along the way. Strong prospect."

Richard Young, running back 

Commitment date: July 29, 2022

At 5-foot-11, 200 pounds, Young rated as the No. 2 running back and No. 24 overall player in the 2023 class, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings. The product of Lehigh Acres, Fla., is coming off a junior season in which he averaged 8.95 yards per carry while recording 1,755 yards and 19 touchdowns on the ground.

“(Young) lived up to the hype in drills and anything else where his gifts were on display with the ball in his hands," Sports Illustrated director of recruiting, John Garcia Jr. said during the Under Armour camp in Miami this past February. "Young has room to improve his space game, particularly catching the ball out of the backfield, but a strong build and smooth downhill game make him coveted.”

Tracking the Class of 2022 SI99 Football Prospects

Class of 2024

High Schools (5) 

1. Julian Sayin, QB, 6-1, 185, Carlsbad, Calif.  
2. Jaylen Mbakwe, CB, 5-11, 170, Pinson, Ala.
3. Martavious Collins, TE, 6-3, 241, Rome, Ga.
4. Perry Thompson, WR, 6-2, 202, Foley, Ala.
5. Sterling Dixon, Edge, 6-3, 211, Mobile, Ala.   

Martavious Collins, tight end 

Commitment date: July 20, 2022

Collins, a native of Rome, Ga., is rated as the No. 12 athlete and No. 111 overall player in the 2024 class, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings. The 6-foot-3 241-pound playmaker joins wide receiver Perry Thompson in Alabama’s two-man 2024 class.

During his sophomore season last year, Collins recorded 21 receptions for 268 yards and a touchdown. Along with playing football at Rome High School, he is also a member of the track and field team, recording a 42.5 shot put throw and 124-8 discus throw as a freshman.

Sterling Dixon, edge

Commitment date: Dec. 1, 2022

Dixon will be teaming up with his high school teammate and current Crimson Tide redshirt linebacker Deontae Lawson. Both defenders played at Mobile Christian in Mobile. Lawson saw a significant role in the Alabama defense this season.

The high school junior had offers from dozens of schools and took multiple visits to Tuscaloosa throughout the fall. He was mainly recruited by Alabama defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach Pete Golding and associate defensive coordinator Charles Kelly.

Dixon is rated a 4-star prospect by 247Sports, On3 and Rivals. In his junior season for Mobile Christian, he had 172 tackles and 18 sacks. 

Jaylen Mbakwe, cornerback 

Commitment date: July 26, 2022 

The product of Pinson, Ala., is the top-rated player in the state and the third member of Alabama’s 2024 class.

Mbakwe is rated as the No. 36 overall player and the No. 4 cornerback in the nation, according to the 247Sports Composite. The 5-foot-11, 170-pound playmaker plays both ways for Class 6A champion Clay-Chalkville High School. During the Cougars’ 15-0 run last season, the 6-foot, 170-pound playmaker recorded 36 receptions for 677 yards and nine touchdowns while also notching four interceptions and 12 pass deflections. He was also a factor on special teams, returning multiple kicks for scores.

In addition to football, Mbakwe also excels on the track. During his sophomore season last year, he posted a personal best of 10.74 seconds in the 100-meter dash.

Julian Sayin, quarterback

Commitment date: Nov. 2, 2022 

Sayin, a consensus five-star quarterback from Carlsbad, California, is the consensus No. 2 signal caller in the 2024 class.

During his recent day-and-a-half with the Crimson Tide, Sayin spoke with head coach Nick Saban and offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien. They told him, “This is where you want to come play quarterback.” Sayin thought about that message a lot.

It ended up being one of the reasons he committed to Alabama, choosing the Crimson Tide over Georgia and LSU.

Perry Thompson, wide receiver 

Commitment date: June 24, 2022

The product Foley, Ala., has drawn physical comparisons to the hometown legend, Julio Jones. The 6-foot-3, 202-pound prospect is coming off a sophomore season where he recorded 53 receptions for 661 yards and five touchdowns while finishing with 814 all-purpose yards for Foley High School. He also had a pair of interceptions on defense.

"I think first and foremost, they are getting a big receiver who has the top-end speed and the ball skills to make plays in one-on-one coverage," Foley head coach Deric Scott said. "I think Alabama's kind of gotten away from the bigger receiver in the past and went for more of the sheer speed guys, and I think Perry is a nice complement of both of them.

"I think he will totally fit in because he's not just a big guy who can't move. He has speed, outstanding hands and ball skills. He just happens to have the size of a bigger receiver."