Alabama dips into Germany for latest defensive commitment

Alabama keeps it eyes open in every part of the world when it comes to recruiting players. The Tide has added players from Canada and Finland during Nick Saban’s tenure. Alabama has now received an impressive defensive commitment from Germany.

Justin Okoronkwo announced a decommitment from Maryland on Saturday afternoon. He committed to the Terps in November. The door started to open a little bit after he attended camps last month including a stop in Tuscaloosa.

“The culture is one-of-a-kind,” Okoronkwo said after attending an Alabama camp. “‘Bama is exactly what you expect it to be. I like the culture that’s at Bama. It’s a place where everybody goes to compete to be the very best.”

A star for the Nurnberg Rams it’s possibly a bit of a challenge for national recruiting analysts to provide a solid ranking for the 19-year old athlete who is currently in his third year of playing organized football. He played safety prior to moving to linebacker. He has also returned kicks.

Okoronkwo attended Alabama’s camp (June 21) where he drew heavy praise from those who were in attendance after measuring 6-foot-3, 224-pounds while clocking a 4.54 40-yard dash. He also had a 36.5-inch vertical, 10’1 broad jump and 4.04-shuttle at the UGA camp last month.

Coach Brandon Collier, who runs PPI Recruits based in Wiesbaden, Germany, brought Okoronkwo to Tuscaloosa the last two years for camp. Coach Collier travels to several camps each summer with 150 European kids for exposure with many earning opportunities to play college football. He has been a regular at Alabama the last three years and knows Okoronkwo is among the very elite.

“Alabama doesn’t ask a kid how many offers he has or look at how many stars are next to his name,” Coach Collier told BOL. “They are the only school in America that recruits the way they recruit-by Nick Saban’s eyes. He is looking for guys who have the ability to play in the NFL. That’s why I keep coming back and bringing guys to ‘Bama.

“He’s physical as heck,” Collier added. “This is his third season ever playing football. He has physicality, size and NFL measurables; just imagine him once he develops in a college system. He has all the tools and athletic ability. The more he understands the game the faster he’ll play.”

Alabama remained in heavy contact with Okoronkwo after camp with conversations with Coach Saban, defensive coordinator Kevin Steele and inside linebackers coach Robert Bala. He worked out at inside and outside linebacker during the Tide’s camp. Okoronkwo also strongly considered South Carolina.

Okoronkwo joins Alabama’s No. 4 ranked recruiting class per the On3 Sports Industry Ranking which also includes a few other linebacker commitments: Sterling Dixon, four-star from Mobile Christian School (Ala.) and Cayden Jones, four-star from Christ School in Asheville, North Carolina.

Alabama will continue to heavily pursue of a few other linebacker targets in its 2024 class including UGA commit Demarcus Riddick, Top 100 from Chilton County High School in Clanton, Alabama, and Solomon Williams, three-star EDGE from Carrollwood Day School in Tampa, Fla. Riddick is scheduled to announce a ‘final’ decision July 26. Williams, who may return to Tuscaloosa later this month, is expected to commit in early September.

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