IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) linebacker Dylan Moses had committed to Alabama (Photo: Troy Wayrynen, USA TODAY Sports Images)
Five-star linebacker Dylan Moses committed to Alabama on Sunday after returning from an official visit, he announced on Twitter.
Moses, who attends IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), was ranked as the top player in the Class of 2017 for much of the past several years and is currently ranked in the top 5. He had reported offers from 39 programs.
“After talking to my parents, I’ve decided to shut my recruitment down,” he wrote. “I will not be taking anymore visits. I want to thank every coach that offered me and took interest in me and a player/person. I have decided to commit to the University of Alabama! Roll Tide!”
The commitment comes after a visit that he “really enjoyed,” according to his Twitter feed. Moses and his father had both tweeted positive impressions during the visit.
A member of the American Family Insurance ALL-USA Preseason Defense, Moses had planned to announce his commitment on Dec. 16 and then moved the date to Jan. 1 to announce at the Under Armour All-America Game. Turns out neither of those dates will apply.
Moses was initially offered by Alabama in February 2013 when he was in eighth grade.
A Baton Rouge native, he had committed to LSU but decommitted in August 2015. LSU was the first school to offer him back in the fall of 2012 and Moses has been on the national recruiting radar since.
His commitment gives Alabama three of the top five players in the class, according to the 247Sports Composite ranking, including No. 1 overall player Najee Harris, a running back from Antioch, Calif., and No. 5 Alex Leatherwood, an offensive tackle from Pensacola, Fla.
Asked his reaction, Leatherwood said, “Savages want to play with savages.”