2025 RB reacts to Alabama offer, recaps visit
The Alabama Crimson Tide have expanded their 2025 running back board multiple times in the month of April.
Last week, Kalen DeBoer‘s staff dished out an offer to Shekai Mills-Knight, who plays for Baylor School in Chattanooga (Tenn.). That will be a familiar school name for Alabama fans as the program is home to Tide wide receiver signee Amari Jefferson.
Mills-Knight, who earned an offer during a trip to The Capstone last week, spoke with BamaOnLine about his reaction to the good news.
“I was hyped. I’ve been waiting for that offer for a long time,” Mills-Knight told BOL. “Just because it’s such a prestigious school. They have a winning culture and a winning program. They’re known to be the best of the best, so I wanted to go check it out.”
This marked the first-ever visit to Alabama for Mills-Knight, who is a native of Canada. Mills-Knight has been playing football his entire life, and made the move to the United States last year.
Mills-Knight enjoyed his experience on campus, and is already being recruited by Jefferson.
“It was a good visit all around,” Mills-Knight said. “It was really nice. My receiver from my school committed there, and he told me it was really nice. So, I wanted to go check it out. [He said] they’ll really develop me, and he told me to come home.”
The top-40 running back also opened up about the possibility of teaming up with Jefferson again at the next level.
“It would definitely be a special moment because that’s my guy,” Mills-Knight said of Jefferson. “I met him just this past year, and I feel like he’s a brother to me.”
Mills-Knight had a sensational junior season as he recorded over 1,200 all-purpose yards after missing the first four games of the season with an ankle injury. That included a 166-yard rushing, three-touchdown performance in the playoff semifinals.
The 6-foot-2, 210-pounder was praised by running backs coach Robert Gillespie on his visit.
“He loves my tape,” Mills-Knight said of his time with Gillespie. “Told me to keep running track to stay in shape and get better. He said I’m able to be so big and run so fast. He said I remind him of Derrick Henry, and he can transform me into a Derrick Henry. That’s great. I feel like he does a good job of developing backs.”
Mills-Knight talks Alabama running back history: “That’s ‘RBU’ right there.’”
During his April 11 visit, Mills-Knight had his first opportunity to speak face-to-face with Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer.
Mills-Knight said DeBoer echoed some of the same sentiments as Gillespie, and believes Bama will do well with him at the helm.
“He just told me he loves my film and he was happy to have me down,” Mills-Knight said of DeBoer’s message. “He’s a good dude. I feel like he’s going to do good things for Alabama. I feel like they’re really good and they have a good tradition of winning.”
Although the new Washington offense that’s being brought in is known for its dynamic aerial attack, Mills-Knight has no concerns about the opportunities that will be provided for their running backs.
“Coach DeBoer is a good coach, and I feel like Bama is still going to be a top program just because Bama is Bama, you know?” Mills-Knight said. “I feel like Bama’s running backs are always going to be solid. I feel like they’ll have an equal share of how they run the game and with the way Coach Gillespie develops running backs, they won’t not run the ball. They have a good history of running, even though it’s a passing offense.”
2025 RB Shekai Mills-Knight. (Photo by Chad Simmons/On3)
Along with the aforementioned Henry, Alabama has produced the likes of Jahmyr Gibbs, Josh Jacobs, Mark Ingram, and others.
So, what are Mills-Knights’ thoughts on their tradition at his position?
“That’s ‘RBU’ right there,” Mills-Knight replied.
Mills-Knight has collected 20-plus offers in 2024, including ones from Auburn, Ohio State, Oregon, and Wisconsin.
Alabama immediately became a contender following last week’s visit and offer.
“Definitely near the top. I liked what I saw on the visit,” Mills-Knight said of Bama’s standing in his recruitment. “It’s just their tradition and their culture. Coach Gillespie’s history with developing backs.”
Ahead of his summer official visits, Mills-Knight says that he would like to get out to North Carolina “soon.” He has scheduled official visits to Miami (May 31 – June 2), Oregon (June 7-9), Tennessee (June 14-16), and Ohio State (June 21-23).
Mills-Knight intends on officially visiting Bama, with that one likely to take place sometime in October.
The rising senior has no timeline for a decision, and says he’s looking for a place that feels like home and has a good coach with a history of development.
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