Class of 2026 IOL Zykie Helton commits to Alabama

Class of 2026 interior offensive lineman Zykie Helton of Carrollton (GA) High announced his commitment to Alabama Sunday afternoon.

The 6-foot-3, 315 pounder chose the Crimson Tide over Georgia, Auburn, and Texas A&M.

Helton on why he chose Alabama

“I mean I knew I wanted to go there. The coaching staff is the best in the nation and I feel like I have a good relationship with them.”

Relationship with coaching staff + their plan for him

“I’m getting closer with coach Wolford,” Helton said. “I mean he’s a funny dude and they are planning on using me at center or guard.”

Even though it’s early for a 2026 recruit to commit, Helton didn’t want to waste any time. 

“Growing up, I always wanted to go to Alabama,” Helton said. “As soon as I got the offer that’s where I knew I was going. I feel I’m the best OL in 2026.”

The Peach State offensive lineman joins coach Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide’s 2026, where he is the first commitment in the class.

He currently does not have an On3 NIL Valuation publicly listed. 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.