Just In: Alabama Goes Back to Running Back After Being a Big Ten Powerhouse

Four-star running back Anthony Rodgers broke his pledge to the Crimson Tide last week, after being locked in since the summer of 2023. He was the team’s longest-term commitment. Head coach Kalen DeBoer of Alabama and his team quickly switched their attention to another recruit and made a strong first impression.

After all those years, their friendship has gotten even stronger. On Tuesday, three-star running back Jace Clarizio officially switched his commitment from Michigan State to Alabama. Clairizio is five feet eleven inches tall and weighs 195 pounds. He is from East Lansing, Michigan, and has been committed to the Spartans since May.

Of all the players in the country, Clarizio is ranked No. 466. He is also ranked No. 35 among running backs by On3 and No. 7 in the state of Michigan.

Now that Clarizio and Akylin Dear, a four-star running back, have committed to Alabama, the Crimson Tide have the second-best recruiting class overall. There are 52 players in the country ranked by the On3 Team Industry Rankings, and Dear is named as the second best running back.

Offensive lineman Michael Carroll and Ty Haywood are both five-star recruits, and Clarizio will be joining a strong class of offensive linemen. The group also includes Jackson Lloyd and Micah DeBose, two four-stars, and Mal Waldrep, a three-star, to round out the five-man offensive line.

Alabama has 22 pledges for the 2025 cycle. Eleven of them are on offence, with five-star quarterback Keelon Russell being the best player in the country.