Alabama beats Clemson for 5-star defensive end Jeremiah Alexander

Five-star Jeremiah Alexander is back with Alabama, committing to the Crimson Tide over Clemson half a year after backing off an early pledge.

Jeremiah Alexander jumped the gun committing to Alabama last year. This time, he’s taken his time and landed right back with the Crimson Tide.

The five-star defensive end from Alabaster, Alabama (Thompson High School) announced another pledge to the home-state favorites on Thursday.

“I committed because of what I still saw in Alabama,” Alexander said, per Tom VanHaaren of ESPN. “When I decommitted from Alabama, I never really lost love, I was just opening back up to have fun with the process.”

Jeremiah Alexander took a look at Clemson but landed back with Alabama

Alexander is a 6-foot-2, 235 edge rusher who ranks No. 16 overall in the 247Sports composite. He is the No. 1 player at his position and the top prospect in the state of Alabama.

Charles Power of 247Sports projects Alexander as a future first-round pick who is “ahead of the curve from a developmental standpoint.”

The local roots enticed him to commit to the Crimson Tide just a couple of days after attending their 2020 Junior Day. However, he backed off his commitment in October with an eye on exploring his options.

Suitors came calling in no time. He picked up offers from Clemson, USC and Oklahoma earlier this year. After a few official visits, he ended up back where he started in Tuscaloosa, citing the home atmosphere and his comfort with the coaching staff.

Alexander is the highest-ranked player in Alabama’s 2022 recruiting class and one of three five-stars in the haul. The Tide also have five-star quarterback Ty Simpson and five-star running back Emmanuel Henderson committed.

For more NCAA football news, analysis, opinion and unique coverage by FanSided, including Heisman Trophy and College Football Playoff rankings, be sure to bookmark these pages.