Alabama lands second 2023 commit in elite CB Jahlil Hurley
Alabama football is putting together a monster group of defensive backs for 2023. On Tuesday afternoon, the Crimson Tide landed its second commitment of the current recruiting class with four-star cornerback Jahlil Hurley out of Florence (Ala.) High School. The young defensive back chose Alabama over other SEC programs such as Georgia and Auburn.
The news of Hurley’s commitment comes just a few weeks after four-star safety Elliot Washington out of Venice (Fla.) High School made his own pledge to the Tide. However, Hurley is rated quite a bit higher in the current On3 Consensus rankings.
The 6-foot-2, 168-pound cornerback currently checks in as a top-25 player nationally (No. 23 overall). He’s also ranked as the No. 2 cornerback and No. 4 player from the state of Alabama for 2023. In other words, it’s only a matter of time before Hurley earns that prestigious five-star status, making him the first elite addition for the Crimson Tide’s current class.
The timing of Hurley’s eventual arrival could not be any more perfect.
Former five-star prospect Eli Ricks could be a one-and-done player in Tuscaloosa after transferring over from LSU. Plus, 2021 JUCO cornerback Khyree Jackson will be a senior this upcoming season, which means the depth will once again need to be replenished. If Hurley can continue to add weight and play strength over the next year, he could position himself to be an early contributor for the Crimson Tide.
The news of Hurley’s commitment isn’t a shock. He’s said all along that he’d prefer to stay home.
“I’m a Bama boy,” Hurley said in a recent interview. “I kind of want to stay home. It’s just that and my relationship with the coaches. Coach (Freddie) Roach is from the area I live in. He’s like family. I feel like I’d be safe down there and be somebody they love and stuff like that.”
On Tuesday, he told On3 national recruiting analyst Chad Simmons that Georgia and Auburn made a strong push for his services. But in the end, Alabama prevailed.
“I started feeling Alabama after my second visit there in the fall,” Hurley said. “I probably knew I was going to Alabama about two weeks later. In November, I really knew it was going to be Alabama.”
Alabama is off to a fantastic start with its 2023 recruiting class. Hurley is obviously a highly-regarded addition. We also can’t forget that On3 ranks Washington as a top-140 player nationally and the No. 10 safety. Those two will make for a strong duo on the back half of the Crimson Tide’s defense in the future.
Stay tuned for more recruiting updates from BCS Alabama.
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