Top-rated running back chooses Alabama, finalizing change from Ole Miss
Alabama secured a pledge on Tuesday from highly-touted recruit Akylin Dear, who is ranked as the second-best running back in the Class of 2025.
Dear, hailing from Quitman, Mississippi, had initially committed to Ole Miss on March 30, but later withdrew his commitment and reopened his recruitment on June 28. He ultimately chose to join the Crimson Tide over offers from both Ole Miss and Mississippi State.
According to the 247Sports composite rankings, Dear is ranked as the 31st best player in the country, the second-best running back, and the third-best player in the state of Mississippi in his senior class.
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\"I am thrilled to be a part of such an esteemed organization that consistently competes for national championships,\" Dear told ESPN. \"Playing for the Alabama Crimson Tide, one of the most storied programs in college football history, is an honor. I am excited to follow in the footsteps of so many great players and strive to be the best of the best.\"
Standing at 6-foot-1 and weighing 200 pounds, Dear had an impressive high school career, rushing for 800 yards and 21 touchdowns as a sophomore, and 2,016 yards and 27 touchdowns in his junior year.
\"Alabama just felt like home to me,\" Dear said of his official visit to the school on June 14. \"The coaching staff, the atmosphere, the drive for excellence, the camaraderie among the players, and the track record of producing successful running backs who go on to the NFL all played a role in my decision. Plus, Coach Robert Gillespie has been incredibly supportive and has shown a genuine belief in my abilities and potential to contribute to the team.\"
In addition to Dear, Alabama also received a commitment from four-star running back Anthony Rogers, a senior at Carver High School in Montgomery, Alabama. Rogers, who stands at 5-foot-8 and weighs 190 pounds, is ranked as the 116th best player in the nation, the sixth-best running back, and the eighth-best player in the state of Alabama in the 247Sports composite rankings.
