TUSCALOOSA — Alabama’s 2028 recruiting class picked up a high-profile addition Monday when four-star offensive lineman Anthony Blalock Jr. announced his commitment to the Crimson Tide.
A big addition up front
Blalock, a prospect out of Austintown Fitch High School in Youngstown, Ohio, adds size and versatility to Alabama’s early group of pledges. Listed at roughly 6-foot-5 and 305 pounds by recruiting services, he is regarded as one of the top offensive linemen in the Midwest for the 2028 class. Recruiting outlets rank him among the best interior linemen in Ohio and place him inside the top 125 overall nationally.
His commitment marks the sixth early pledge in the Tide’s 2028 cycle and is the program’s first offensive-line commitment under newly hired offensive line coach Adrian Klemm. Alabama currently holds the No. 1 position in the 247Sports Team Recruiting Rankings for the 2028 cycle.
Why Blalock chose Alabama
Blalock told recruiting media that Klemm’s track record developing linemen at the next level and the on-campus hospitality were key factors in his decision. In his own words:
"Coach (Adrian) Klemm really showed me the results that he has done with players that are not near my caliber and they made it to the next level, so I know he can for me. The hospitality at Alabama was great. It really felt like home."
Blalock received an on-campus offer from Alabama after a standout showing at a summer camp on June 17, a performance that helped push Alabama’s recruiting staff to make him a priority.
Background and recruiting footprint
Rated a four-star recruit, Blalock sits among the top interior linemen in the class nationally and drew interest from a lengthy list of Power Five programs. His reported offer sheet includes more than 20 schools such as Indiana, Ohio State, Penn State, Texas Tech, UCLA, Missouri, Louisville, Maryland, Minnesota and Georgia.
- High school: Austintown Fitch High School (Youngstown, Ohio)
- Position: Offensive line (projected tackle)
- Size: Listed around 6-5, 305 pounds
- Ranking: Top interior lineman in Ohio; inside top 125 nationally
Where he fits in Alabama’s early class
Blalock joins five other early commitments in the 2028 Alabama class, giving the Tide depth and positional balance early in the cycle. The current list of early commitments includes both in-state and out-of-state prospects across offensive and defensive positions.
| Committed Prospect | Position | Hometown |
|---|---|---|
| Kingston Preyear | Quarterback | Alexander City, Ala. |
| Braylen Gibbs | Cornerback | Knoxville, Tenn. |
| Charles Scott Jr. | Quarterback | Richmond, Va. |
| Dustin Henry | Linebacker | Baltimore, Md. |
| Ryquan Butler | Linebacker | Notasluga, Ala. |
| Anthony Blalock Jr. | Offensive line | Youngstown, Ohio |
Alabama’s early recruiting momentum under head coach Nick Saban’s staff — now including Klemm leading the line room — continues to attract high-level talent from a broad geographic footprint. Adding a lineman of Blalock’s size and mobility addresses both current and future needs along the offensive front as the program builds for the 2028 season and beyond.
What to watch next
For local fans in Tuscaloosa and across the state, Blalock’s commitment reinforces Alabama’s national pull in recruiting. Keep an eye on the Tide’s class ranking updates from recruiting services this summer and watch for additional official visits and offers that could influence how the 2028 roster takes shape.
This commitment follows a busy June and early July for the Tide’s recruiting staff and represents an early win in securing a lineman who projects as a collegiate tackle with room to develop.
— Caleb Whitfield, Alabama Correspondent
