Alabama secured another major commitment for its 2025 class on Tuesday when highly regarded running back Akylin Dear announced his decision to join the Crimson Tide. Ranked as the No. 1 running back in the class by 247Sports, Dear chose Alabama over offers from Ole Miss and Mississippi State.
Hailing from Quitman, Mississippi, Dear is preparing for his senior season at Quitman High School after rushing for over 2,000 yards as a junior. Ranked as the No. 45 overall prospect in the class by 247Sports, he becomes Alabama’s 20th commitment in this recruiting cycle.
Dear’s commitment is yet another sign that first-year coach Kalen DeBoer is smoothly handling the recruiting demands of leading one of the nation’s premier programs. Alabama’s class is currently ranked No. 2 nationally in the 247Sports Team Rankings, trailing only Ohio State.
Of Alabama’s 20 commitments, nine are ranked in the top 100 nationally by 247Sports, demonstrating that the Crimson Tide remains a top destination for elite talent even in the post-Nick Saban era. According to 247Sports national recruiting analyst Cooper Petagna, Dear is an efficient runner with a powerful lower body, capable of making defenders miss and gaining extra yards after contact. Known for his physicality and craftiness, Dear also possesses the quickness and speed to be a home-run threat at the next level. With his impressive stats and physical attributes, Dear is projected to make an immediate impact at the Power Five level and could develop into a Day-2 NFL Draft pick.
Dear, who has also excelled in track at Quitman High School, joins four-star running back Anthony Rogers in Alabama’s class, giving the Crimson Tide a formidable duo at the position as the December signing period approaches.
