Crimson Tide Lands Five-Star Beast: Xavier Griffin Commits to Alabama
Gainesville, GA — July 1, 2025
In a move that could shape the future of college football’s fiercest defense, Xavier Griffin, the five-star linebacker from Gainesville, Georgia, has announced his commitment to the University of Alabama. Griffin, ranked as the nation’s No. 2 linebacker and a top-30 player overall in the 2026 class by the 247Sports Composite, made his decision public via a live-streamed announcement in front of a packed gymnasium at Gainesville High.
Wearing a crimson blazer and flanked by his family—his mother in a Roll Tide hoodie, his father beaming in an Alabama ball cap—Griffin unzipped his windbreaker to reveal a white Alabama jersey with his name stitched across the back. The crowd erupted.
“I’ve prayed on it, talked with my coaches and family, and felt it in my heart,” Griffin said. “Tuscaloosa is where I belong. Coach DeBoer and Coach Steele laid out a plan—not just for football, but for life. And I believe in what they’re building.”
Griffin, 6-foot-3, 225 pounds with sideline-to-sideline speed, emerged as a national name during his sophomore season when he posted 112 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, and 8 sacks, earning Georgia 6A Defensive Player of the Year honors. His film shows a relentless motor, violent hands, and elite instincts—traits that have drawn comparisons to former Alabama greats like C.J. Mosley and Reuben Foster.
Over 30 Power Five programs extended offers. Georgia made a strong push to keep him home. Ohio State rolled out the scarlet carpet during his official visit. USC even flew him to L.A. on a private jet. But Alabama, Griffin said, never wavered.
“They recruited me like I was already family,” he said. “Every visit, it felt like home.”
Crimson Tide defensive coordinator Kevin Steele was instrumental in securing Griffin’s pledge. According to a source close to the program, Steele has been “all in” on Griffin since his freshman year and called him “a foundational piece for the next generation of Bama defense.”
Recruiting insiders say Griffin’s commitment is a massive win for Alabama, especially as they continue to adjust to life after Nick Saban. New head coach Kalen DeBoer, known more for his offensive brilliance, is making it clear that defense still matters in Tuscaloosa—and Griffin could be the face of that resurgence.
“Xavier is the type of player you build a championship defense around,” said 247Sports analyst Steve Wiltfong. “He can cover, rush, and hit like a freight train. There aren’t five better defensive players in the country, period.”
Griffin’s commitment gives Alabama its fourth five-star in the 2026 class, moving the Tide up to No. 2 nationally in the team rankings, behind only Texas.
As the Gainesville gym began to empty, one young fan clutched an autographed Alabama cap, eyes wide.
“That’s the guy who’s gonna wreck quarterbacks in the SEC,” he whispered.
And he just might be right.
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