Alabama Lands 2028 Four-Star OL Anthony Blalock Jr. Over Ohio State
Alabama strengthened its 2028 recruiting class with the commitment of four-star offensive lineman Anthony Blalock Jr., according to On3’s Hayes Fawcett.
The Ohio standout chose the Crimson Tide over Kentucky, Texas Tech and hometown contender Ohio State after recently visiting Tuscaloosa with his agency. The trip appears to have made a lasting impression, leading to an early commitment.
Blalock becomes the sixth member of Alabama’s 2028 class, which is currently ranked No. 2 nationally. He is the class’s third-highest-rated pledge, trailing quarterback Kingston Preyear and defensive back Braylen Gibbs. The group also includes quarterback Charles Scott Jr. and linebackers Dustin Henry and Ryquan Butler.
The 6-foot-6, 315-pound lineman from Austintown Fitch High School is ranked No. 125 overall in the nation by the 247Sports Composite. He is also listed as the No. 12 interior offensive lineman in the country and the No. 6 overall prospect in Ohio.
More recruiting updates
Blalock is represented by the same agency as top junior college defensive back prospect Alius Mayo, another player Alabama is pursuing. The Crimson Tide, Auburn and California are all in the mix for Mayo, who also visited Alabama alongside Blalock in recent weeks. While Mayo has yet to announce a commitment timeline, Alabama remains one of the leading contenders.
Blalock marks Alabama’s third commitment in the 2028 class over the past week, highlighting head coach Kalen DeBoer’s aggressive approach to building the program’s future. With a smaller 2027 recruiting class, the coaching staff has shifted significant attention toward the 2028 cycle.
One of the Crimson Tide’s top remaining targets is four-star defensive lineman CT Foster, who has spoken positively about Alabama as the program continues its pursuit.
The Tide are also battling Auburn for highly regarded linebacker Nehemiah McCary, one of the top in-state prospects in the 2028 class. Rivals ranks McCary as Alabama’s No. 2 overall player, setting up another recruiting battle between the state’s two powerhouse programs.
Rankings shuffle for 2027 commits
Several Alabama commits in the 2027 class saw movement in the latest Rivals rankings.
Quarterback Elijah Haven, a five-star prospect on other major recruiting services, dropped to No. 94 nationally in the Rivals rankings while remaining a four-star prospect and the nation’s sixth-ranked quarterback.
Meanwhile, defensive back Osani Gayles enjoyed one of the biggest jumps, climbing from No. 111 to No. 73 overall.
At running back, Tai Phillips earned a promotion from three-star to four-star status in ESPN’s recruiting rankings, giving Alabama two four-star running back commits alongside Nigel Newkirk, who holds four-star status on Rivals.
Five-star receiver decision approaching
Alabama is also awaiting one of the biggest recruiting decisions of the 2027 cycle. Five-star wide receiver Monshun Sales is scheduled to announce his commitment on Friday, with Alabama competing against LSU, Texas, Indiana and Ohio State for one of the nation’s top pass-catching prospects.
Leave a Reply