logo
Alabama lands a commitment from Rivals' No. 1 RB Ezavier Crowell

Alabama lands a commitment from Rivals' No. 1 RB Ezavier Crowell

Yahoo2 days ago

Ezavier Crowell has locked in his college decision.
Rivals' No. 1 running back in the Class of 2026 committed to Alabama.
The Crimson Tide edged out Auburn, Georgia and Texas for the blue-chipper from Jackson (Ala.) High School, who has been trending toward staying in-state and playing for Kalen DeBoer dating back to last fall.
Advertisement
Multiple trips back to Tuscaloosa this spring after reclassifying into the current recruiting cycle, including an official visit on June 20 weekend, made the decision even simpler for Crowell.
"The overall visit there was amazing. The feel was amazing -- and I feel that I can be there and change things around," Crowell told Rivals of his commitment to Alabama.
"My biggest thing is how the staff welcomes you in as many," he continued. "I had a great time with the running backs, spending time with them and telling me we can do something great there. Spending time with Coach (Ryan) Grubb and Coach G (Robert Gillespie) -- their message was to come be a part of something great. They've made me feel like a priority."
Crowell has made upwards of 15 visits to the Capstone dating back to last fall.
Advertisement
Alabama continued to stand tall with the top-50 prospect in the Rivals250 after each visit to campus.
"Every time I'm back, it just feels right. You can't fake the culture ... it's built into everything they do," Crowell explained. "Seeing other schools has been good for perspective, but Alabama always holds up."
Gillespie has courted Crowell as a priority target from the jump in this recruitment.
That theme was furthered when the four-star RB jumped up into the 2026 class.
"Our relationship has definitely grown. Every visit, our conversations get deeper — not just about football but life, too," Crowell said. "I feel like he really understands me and what I'm looking for."
"The more I'm around, the more I see how detailed and organized everything is. Nothing is done just to be done — there's always a purpose behind it. That stood out a lot," he added.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

OT7 Finals: Top performers from opening day
OT7 Finals: Top performers from opening day

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

OT7 Finals: Top performers from opening day

FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The first full day of action at the OT7 Finals in South Florida kicked off on Friday with a loaded field. Some of the teams that made the championship round were delayed thanks to Mother Nature, but there were plenty of big-time players and performances to take in before and after that point. Rivals was on hand and takes a closer look at the best in show. OT7 FINALS: Recruiting Rumor Mill CLASS OF 2026 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State CLASS OF 2027 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State 1. Derrick Baker The Sunshine State native now at Milton (Ga.) High School was back at his old high school field and dialed in. Baker was able to work through progressions quickly and fire in footballs with high RPMs through tight windows. Advertisement It led to a bevy of scores against just one turnover that wasn't even his fault (tipped by wide receiver) on an undefeated first day. Baker even got to flash the wheels and situational awareness in avoiding the blitz and picking up chunks with his legs during the nightcap. 2. Tylan Wilson Among the bulk of the games we took in, there wasn't a safety who made as many plays on the football as the Mississippi native wth Texas A&M buzz to his name. Wilson has excellent range and comes off the hash with a purpose, separating the ball from the wide receiver on several occasions upon arrival. Advertisement Even when the PBUs didn't rack up, Wilson was in position to make plays well more than not. The length and instincts are also strong within the four-star's game. 3. Jamar Owens The 7-on-7 game is about possessions and Owens not only flipped the field with a pair of interceptions, but he took each tender to the house for points. The first was an instinctive jump on the football for a walk-in score but the second was even better, coming off of one wide receiver to play the lane and snag the INT. Owens made other plays down the field, including in the end zone, even somehow showing some physicality along the way. 4. Larry Miles It was another day at the office for Miles, who commits on July 1. He is crafty in and out of his breaks and certainly flashes top speed in short order with the ball in his hands. But the element that the four-star flashed most on this day was his strong hands. Advertisement He collected the football in traffic on routine, particularly in his first game en route to three touchdowns, and gripped it away from his frame with ease. 5. Jonas Williams The USC commitment stood in ready to launch from the outset on Friday. He pushes the ball down the field with true ease and while he showed that part of his game off, he was even more impressive in tight quarters and near the end zone. Williams can work a fast ball but also layered it well over the middle. Just as importantly, there were no glaring mistakes in his game, he took what the defense gave him or dirted the ball when nothing was presented. Advertisement SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH USC FANS AT 6. Zion Crumpton The recent Mississippi State commitment didn't collect the volume of receptions some of the others on the list did, but the flashes were among the most head-turning of the day coming from any position. Crumpton hit the high point on a pair of touchdown grabs, drawing audible reactions from the crowd on each – and one right after the other. The bounce and ball skills may have been the best of the day and the final snag sent a game to overtime. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH MISSISSIPPI STATE FANS AT 7. Devin Fitzgerald The NFL legacy stole the show at the All-Star Game on Thursday night, taking home MVP honors after multiple touchdown grabs, and he had another pair of scores to his name in the national television showcase to end the evening. Advertisement Fitzgerald has added good weight to his frame but, to the surprise of few, he carries the mass well and shows polish as a route-runner out of his breaks. The rising senior's score on a 7-cut at the back pylon was a sample of his all-around game on one play, getting the defender off of his hip without much wasted motion before a snag away from his body. 8. Naeem Burroughs The Clemson commitment is known for speed and he showed it off on multiple occasions, including on a bang-8 route in which he created separation on multiple defenders in the end zone. Burroughs has more polish than given credit for and that was on display, too, in two of his touchdown grabs to round out his first game. One came in tight quarters in traffic and the other came with all of his momentum pushing him toward the sideline, extending for the football while dragging his feet. Advertisement SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH CLEMSON FANS AT 9. Aaron Gregory The Texas A&M commitment is steady and just makes plays. On this day he flashed on both sides of the ball, making his initial plays at safety with a pair of PBUs and a key interception during C1N's upset of SFE. Gregory got back to what he does best in the night camp, snagging plenty of passes away from his frame in the end zone for touchdowns and conversions alike. Gregory has great body control and maximizes a classic X frame to present a large target for the passer. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH TEXAS A&M FANS AT 10. Gavin Sidwar The Mizzou quarterback commitment put up consistent points to kick off his OT7 Finals slate, both working the ball all over the field but also manipulating speed along the way. Advertisement He anticipated well from the outside in and even threw some of his targets open against tight coverage. It isn't flashy, but the blue-chipper moves the football and keeps his team in the thick of it. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH MISSOURI FANS AT NOTES *The talk of the morning session was the offseason debut for five-star quarterback Jared Curtis. The Georgia commitment needed some time to settle in with a team and targets he has known for some 24 hours, but when it looked right, the big passer answered the bell. He showed competitiveness and plenty of arm talent in pushing the football down the field on routine. Advertisement *The catch of the day belonged to one of the youngest players in attendance in rising-sophomore Brysen Wright, who skied for a one-handed snag along the sidelines despite contested work from the defender. *A matchup worth the price of admission we may see more intensity from provided several strong samples Friday when Jordan Clay and Danny Odem tangled. The rising-seniors each made tough plays against one another in the end zone, sparking the type of tension that may carry over to the weekend. *Lorenzo Aguirre led the RG3 team to the upset of the night, a late comeback win over Cam Newton's squad and it came with two of the prettiest deep balls of the entire day. The winning "onside throw" got behind several FBS secondary recruits. *There weren't many players who snagged multiple interceptions on a somewhat limited day, but Houston commit Kah'ni Watts did just that. The first came early in the action, snagging the INT and taking it to the house without much contention. The second showcased some instincts and more ball skills, picking one off after a deflection and nearly taking that one the distance.

AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson and Cameron Boozer headline list of top lottery candidates for 2026 NBA draft
AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson and Cameron Boozer headline list of top lottery candidates for 2026 NBA draft

Chicago Tribune

time2 hours ago

  • Chicago Tribune

AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson and Cameron Boozer headline list of top lottery candidates for 2026 NBA draft

The NBA has had Victor Wembanyama and Cooper Flagg as obvious No. 1 overall draft picks in recent years. AJ Dybantsa has been headed toward that status for 2026. The BYU signee has been a favorite to sit atop draft boards next summer and ranks as the nation's top recruit by ESPN, On3 and Rivals. Kansas signee Darryn Peterson tops the list for 247Sports to make it a more open race for No. 1. Here's an early look next summer's potential lottery prospects. The 6-foot-9 forward chose the Cougars over Kansas, North Carolina and Alabama. Athleticism and versatility shine through his rangy scoring skillset, notably when he attacks off the dribble and finishes at the rim. The Massachusetts native spent last year with Utah Prep and is on this summer's USA Basketball Under-19 National Team for the FIBA World Cup. The 6-5 guard from Ohio offers perimeter size with ability to play on or off the ball. He can attack off the dribble or step outside, offering potential to overwhelm smaller guards and impact games defensively. Peterson played last season with Prolific Prep in California and was co-MVP of the McDonald's All-American game. The 6-9 forward joined twin Cayden in winning a high school national title and fourth straight Florida state title. The son of former Duke and NBA forward Carlos Boozer showed his inside-out game (22 points, 16 rebounds, six assists) leading the U.S. past the World team in the Nike Hoop Summit. He joined Peterson as the McDonald's game co-MVP. The 6-9 forward is a McDonald's All-American and Gatorade player of the year for Virginia with versatile skills. He'll improve as he adds strength to his lean frame, though he stands out with ballhandling and shooting range. The 6-9 forward from Atlanta and McDonald's All-American offers two-way potential with his athleticism and length, including as a shot blocker. The McDonald's All-American announced his UNC commitment on TNT's 'Inside The NBA' show alongside former NBA players Shaquille O'Neal, Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith. ESPN and 247Sports rank Cenac as the nation's top center, offering rangy skills and outside shooting that made him the MVP of the NBPA Top 100 camp in summer 2024. Houston coach Kelvin Sampson has said the McDonald's All-American is 'not a big man's big man… he is a basketball player who happens to be 6-foot-10.' The versatile 6-8 wing from Mexico is part of the National Basketball League's 'Next Stars' program designed to develop high-end prospects, averaging 9.6 points and 4.7 assists in his 2024-25 debut season. He turns 18 in December. The 6-9 forward was a top-10 recruit last year entering Arizona State, where he averaged 9.4 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.6 blocks. He later transferred to join the Wildcats. The 6-3 McDonald's All-American is big signee for Pat Kelsey entering Year 2 of his tenure with the Cardinals, ranking as the No. 1 point guard prospect for Rivals. He joined Dybantsa in making the U.S. U-19 team. The 6-2 Acuff is the top point guard prospect for 247Sports (No. 5 overall) and ESPN (No. 7). The McDonald's All-American operates smoothly in the pick-and-roll with the ability to attack defenders off the dribble and from 3-point range. ESPN's ninth-ranked recruit offers a sturdy frame (roughly 6-5 and 210 pounds) and versatile athleticism while being known for a high-motor style. He had 24 points for the World team against the U.S. in the Nike Hoop Summit in April. Like Lopez, the younger brother of Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels is will play for the NBL's 'Next Stars' program. Dash is a 6-6 point guard who has been through NBA Academy Australia. The 6-6 guard withdrew from this year's draft and must add strength to a 175-pound frame. But there's clear upside with his explosive scoring potential, such as hitting six first-half 3s out of nowhere against Auburn in December. The 6-4 freshman point guard was a last-minute draft withdrawal. He averaged 10.6 points and 3.8 assists for an Elite Eight team that just lost Associated Press first-team All-American Mark Sears from the backcourt. Alijah Arenas: The son of former NBA guard Gilbert Arenas is a McDonald's All-American known for scoring and court vision, but the 6-6 guard's status is unclear as he's still working back from an April truck accident that had him placed in a medically induced coma. Arenas avoided major injury and said this week he works out daily, with the plan of soon joining USC summer workouts. Miles Byrd: The 6-7 guard from San Diego State withdrew from the draft after averaging 12.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists as a redshirt sophomore. Ian Jackson: The 6-4 guard averaged 11.9 points while shooting 39.5% from 3-point range at North Carolina as a five-star freshman before transferring to St. John's. Yaxel Lendeborg: The 6-9, 240-pound forward has gone from junior college to UAB and now Michigan. He withdrew from the draft after averaging 15.8 points and 11.0 rebounds in two seasons with the Blazers. Tahaad Pettiford: The 6-1 freshman averaged 11.6 points and shot 36.6% on 3s for Auburn's Final Four team. He's set for a leading role after withdrawing from the draft. Meleek Thomas: The 6-4 guard averaged 33.5 points per 40 minutes with Overtime Elite. He's a McDonald's All-American who signed with Arkansas.

Alabama lands commitment from local standout, 2026 in-state linebacker
Alabama lands commitment from local standout, 2026 in-state linebacker

USA Today

time3 hours ago

  • USA Today

Alabama lands commitment from local standout, 2026 in-state linebacker

On Friday night, the Alabama Crimson Tide landed a commitment from a local product, as in-state standout Zay Hall announced that he had committed to the program. Hall is the sixth different player to commit to Alabama so far this week, as well as the third within the past two days alongside the four-star duo of Ezavier Crowell and Mack Sutter. At the moment, Hall is currently considered as the nation's No. 1,148 overall prospect in the 2026 recruiting class, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings. A three-star prospect, Hall is also ranked as the nation's No. 127 overall linebacker, as well as the No. 55 player in the state of Alabama where he attends Hillcrest High School in Tuscaloosa. The three-star prospect is the first linebacker commit in Alabama's class, as well as the fourth from in-state where he is joined by the aforementioned Crowell (Jackson), Zyan Gibson (Gadsden City), and Kamhariyan Johnson (Muscle Shoals). Alabama's class has now cracked the Top 10 of the 247Sports Team Rankings as well, sitting at No. 10 with a total of 13 commitments. Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store