Alabama football’s recruiting momentum continued on Tuesday when four-star running back Akylin Dear announced his commitment, completing a flip to the Tide from Ole Miss.
Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer and staff pulled the No. 2-ranked running back in the Class of 2025 per the 247Sports Composite out of Quitman, Miss., and away from the in-state Rebels. Now, Alabama holds commitments from two of the top three prospects in Mississippi: Dear and five-star wide receiver Caleb Cunningham.
Running backs coach Robert Gillespie and defensive line coach Freddie Roach, the two holdover assistants from last season, were Dear’s lead recruiters. Dear was offered by Alabama in 2023 under the previous staff, and that relationship with Gillespie continued. Although Dear committed to Ole Miss in March, Alabama never stopped pursuing him. Dear officially visited Alabama during the June 14 weekend. The 6-foot-1, 200-pound prospect becomes the 20th commitment in Alabama’s 2025 class and the ninth top-100 player.
As it stands, Alabama holds the No. 2 overall recruiting class according to the 247Sports Composite.
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Dear’s commitment gives Alabama two of the top six running backs committed in the 2025 class, joining four-star commit Anthony Rogers. Considering Alabama’s current running backs group is relatively young with junior Jam Miller, sophomore Justice Haynes, redshirt freshman Richard Young and true freshmen Daniel Hill and Kevin Riley, adding two blue-chip players to the room is an impressive feat by Gillespie.
Stacking talent at this position isn’t new for Alabama, and the success it’s bred over time has become a strong selling point for Gillespie — both in recruiting and in roster retention once players are on campus.
“The pictures (of past Alabama greats at running back), I point them out in the room all the time,” Gillespie said in regards to the 2024 group. “All those guys were once in that room at the same time, and now they’re all playing in the NFL. Those guys are just pushing each other man and understand they’re going to need each other to play well.”
Akylin Dear (@akylin3) has a new max speed of 20.9 mph in this highlight! 👀
Any team that lands him is getting some serious speed added to their roster🔥
Learn your max speed here: https://t.co/IKk5DVUoz3 🔗 pic.twitter.com/8SxJP8iOOw
— Reel Analytics (@RAanalytics) July 16, 2024
Dear possesses a physical frame and running style that fits well in Alabama’s scheme. He’s the bell cow for his Quitman High team, totaling nearly 3,000 yards and 51 touchdowns over the past two seasons. His North-South style with an explosive element at that size is a complement to the smaller Rogers (5-8 and 190 pounds).
Alabama’s recruiting momentum has been steady over the past few months with 15 commitments from June through August. There have been a few decommitments, however, Alabama is entering the fall with a well-rounded group. The class has 11 offensive players, eight defensive players and one specialist.
(Photo: Barbara Gauntt / Clarion Ledger / USA Today)
