Alabama just landed a big pickup for next year with the commitment of Nigel Newkirk.
The four-star running back from Gainesville (Ga.) entered his official visit to Alabama with plans to make a decision later this summer. Instead, the No. 89 prospect in the Rivals Industry Ranking left Tuscaloosa knowing exactly where he wanted to play his college football.
Newkirk committed to Alabama over the weekend and has officially shut down his recruitment.
The decision did not come as a surprise to those closest to his recruitment. Alabama had occupied a spot at or near the top of his list for a long time.
“They’ve always been in front,” Newkirk said. “Alabama has always been up there. They have always shown love, they have always made me feel wanted, and my visits there were always great.
“I have been there around 10 times, and I have strong relationships with the coaches, and I am very comfortable there. It just feels like a family. It’s easy to adapt. Tuscaloosa is a great place for me.”
Alabama’s 2027 class is still small (as usual this time of year), but June is when things usually start ramping up, and Newkirk is the first guy to really kick things off. And he’s already shutting down his recruitment, so that’s likely a good sign.
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Interestingly, Rivals has him as the 6th best running back and #89 overall player in the country, while ESPN and 247 both have him rated as a 3-star. You have to wonder if the other services will wind up closing the distance, or if Rivals will continue to be the outlier viewing him as one of the elite? And hey, the schools fighting for his commitment were Alabama, Ohio State, LSU, and Michigan. So the guy had the best in college football all being very high on him.
Here’s a little analysis and stats from 247:
SCOUTING REPORT VIA 247SPORTS NATIONAL SCOUTING ANALYST GABE BROOKS
Impressive build with the look of a P4 RB
Gets north-south as quickly as possible
Runs hard and gains extra yardage through contact at the second level
Not an elusive move stringer, but capable of one-cut evasiveness to extend runs
Encouraging track data that includes a 11.05 100-meter time as a sophomore
Sees plays develop and knows how to effectively use patience or urgency
Somewhat of a one-speed runner who can enhance gear-mixing nuance
Limited pass-catching opportunities
Projects to the P4 level as a possible high-major back who could become a quality starter and/or valuable piece of a multi-faceted backfield rotation
Newkirk turned in an extremely productive junior season with the Red Elephants before suffering a season-ending injury in the playoffs last fall. The dynamic running backs racked up 184 carries for 1,496 yards (8.1 per rush) and 19 touchdowns, while tallying 12 receptions for 128 yards and one touchdown across 14 games played. Newkirk racked up nine games with 100 or more yards, while also adding seven performances with at least two touchdowns (two games with three scores).
Newkirk is the first RB of Alabama’s 2027 class, and with the Tide likely going to pull in a small class this season, he may be the only one. He’s a 0ne-cut-and-go player with excellent burst, breakaway speed, and the ability to shed early arm tackles. Add in some pretty impressive receiving chops, and the coaching staff likely views him as a guy that can be an every-down player in the future.
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