As the official visit season gets underway, it has become clear that Kalen DeBoer and Alabama are aiming to secure two running backs for their 2027 recruiting class. With summer recruiting heating up, four prospects have quickly emerged as top targets, all of whom have planned visits to Tuscaloosa.
Following Alabama’s first major recruiting weekend of the summer, the picture for the 2027 RB class is starting to sharpen.
Four-star RB Nigel Newkirk, from Gainesville, Georgia, spent the past weekend on Alabama’s campus. Although he had intended to visit LSU, Ohio State, and Michigan in June, he announced his commitment to the Crimson Tide on Sunday.
Newkirk was the first of two expected commitments. Alabama is now weighing three options to fill the second RB spot in the class.
Three-star RB Tai Phillips, a speedy back from South Carolina, has emerged as the most likely addition, with Alabama heavily favored in his recruitment and a decision expected shortly. Four-stars Trey Martin (Louisiana) and Kingston Miles (Missouri) also had June visits scheduled to Tuscaloosa and remained strong contenders.
But one of those names is no longer in play.
Miles spent the weekend at Auburn and announced his commitment to the Tigers on Monday.
Kingston Miles’ pledge to Auburn is no major loss for DeBoer and Alabama
Once Newkirk committed, it was evident Miles was unlikely to join this class. He had consistently been viewed as Alabama’s fourth priority at RB in this cycle. Still, it will be interesting to see how the second and final spot gets filled.
Phillips has flown somewhat under the radar during his recruitment, but he’s the kind of hidden gem that can make an entire evaluation staff look brilliant. In just seven games last season before an injury, he rushed for 919 yards and seven touchdowns. Had he finished his junior year, those numbers would have likely led to a major rise in his recruiting rankings.
But will Alabama accept a commitment from Phillips before Martin arrives on campus? Pulling Martin away from LSU has always seemed like a long shot, yet even after his visit to Baton Rouge, all signs suggest he will still make his scheduled official visit to Tuscaloosa this coming weekend. Courtney Morgan and DeBoer have stuck to their approach of only hosting official visitors they believe they have a legitimate chance to land.
If Martin does visit this weekend, it signals Alabama still thinks it can land him despite Newkirk’s commitment.
Regardless of the outcome, DeBoer and Alabama’s staff are clearly serious about elevating the talent level in the running backs room. Newkirk is a strong start, joining a young group that already features elite backs from the last two cycles EJ Crowell and AK Dear along with under-the-radar find Trae’shawn Brown.
Whether the next addition is Martin or Phillips, either would be another excellent piece for the room.
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