2027 RB Zion Mabry commits to Northwestern
2027 running back Zion Mabry from Cordele (Ga.) Crisp County committed to Northwestern on Tuesday, three days after his unofficial visit to Wrigley Field for the Wildcats’ matchup with Minnesota.
Mabry picked the Wildcats over offers from Georgia State, Troy and UMass, and several other programs, like Georgia, Louisville, Minnesota and Cincinnati were involved in his recruitment.
Northwestern was his first Power Four offer on Sept. 17, and it paid off with an early commitment a little more than two months later.
He is the second member of Northwestern’s Class of 2027, joining tight end Wyatt Frey, who committed on Nov. 18. Both players are yet to receive a star rating by Rivals.
Mabry is part of a trend by Northwestern, under new running backs coach Aristotle Thompson, to recruit bigger, stronger running backs. Mabry is a physical force at 6-foot-1 and 225 pounds, and so is 2026 running back commit Sean Morris II, at 5-foot-10 and 205 pounds. Both figure to be excellent fits for the power running style Northwestern has used this year with feature back Caleb Komolafe.
Landing Mabry was unusually quick work by the Wildcats, who typically start picking up commitments once the calendar turns to the new year. When they do get commits more than a year in advance, it’s typically for local prospects like 2026 quarterback Johnny O’Brien from Palatine (Ill.) Fremd, who committed in June of 2024, or 2023 tight end Patrick Schaller from Northbrook (Ill.) Glenbrook North, who committed in November of 2022.
If Northwestern signs Mabry and Frey, it will be the first time they have multiple commits more than a year before Signing Day since the Class of 2020, with early pledges Cam Porter and Jaheem Joseph.
Mabry’s father, Jerrell Mabry, played running back at Miami in the 2000s.
Northwestern’s Class of 2027 is not yet ranked, pending evaluations on their commitments.
