Alabama trending for elite 2025 EDGE Zion Grady
To no surprise, Nick Saban and Alabama are already putting together a formidable recruiting class in the 2025 cycle.
The Crimson Tide have seven junior commitments, three of whom are top-100 prospects in the On3 Industry Ranking. According to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine (RPM), another elite recruit could be joining the fold.
Following predictions logged by national recruiting analysts and insiders, Alabama is heavily trending for Troy (Ala.) Charles Henderson four-star EDGE Zion Grady. Auburn Live insider Cole Pinkston is the latest to predict Grady to Bama, accompanying his pick with a 60% confidence level. The Tide now have a 92.1% chance to Grady’s pledge, per the On3 RPM.
The 6-foot-4, 210-pounder has made plenty of stops to Tuscaloosa, including four visits in a seven-month stretch from March to September. Inside linebackers coach Robert Bala has helped lead Alabama’s recruitment of Grady.
“They’ve got really good player development,” Grady told BOL of Alabama on Sept. 15. “All their players do good in the NFL and last in the league for a long time. They develop very well for the NFL, so that plays a huge part.”
Grady is the No. 35 overall prospect and No. 3 EDGE in the 2025 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He’s also the No. 5 player in Alabama.
He has an On3 NIL Valuation of $94K. The On3 NIL Valuation is the industry’s leading index that sets high school and college athletes’ projected annual value (PAV). The NIL valuation does not act as a tracker of the value of NIL deals an athlete has completed to date. It rather signifies an athlete’s value at a certain moment in time.
Bama boasts top-ranked recruiting class
While it’s still early and the 2024 cycle is still ongoing, Alabama’s 2025 class already ranks No. 1 in the nation, per the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Ranking. A pair of five-stars have helped propel the Tide to the top.
Saraland (Ala.) Five-Star Plus+ wide receiver Ryan Williams is the No. 3 overall prospect in the cycle and has been committed to Alabama since October 2022. This July, Jacksonville Mandarin five-star WR Jaime Ffrench joined the fold as the No. 12 recruit and No. 3 wideout.
The class also features Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy four-star running back Anthony Rogers. The Pike Road (Ala.) native checks in at No. 80 overall and is also the No. 5 tailback. Williams’ Saraland teammate, four-star defensive lineman Antonio Coleman, is also in the mix as the No. 18 DL in the class. Just one of the Tide’s current pledges are outside the top 300 of the On3 Industry Ranking.