5-Star OT Ty Haywood Commits to Alabama over Oklahoma, FSU and TCU; No. 2 Ranked OT
July 14, 2024
Five-star offensive tackle prospect Ty Haywood has committed to Alabama, he told On3's Hayes Fawcett.
Haywood, a member of the class of 2025, is listed as the No. 2 offensive tackle and No. 11 player in the nation by 247Sports composite rankings.
Hayes Fawcett @Hayesfawcett3BREAKING: Five-Star OT Ty Haywood has Committed to Alabama, he tells me for <a href="https://twitter.com/On3Recruits?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@on3recruits</a><br><br>The 6'6 300 OT from Denton, TX chose the Crimson Tide over Oklahoma, Florida State, & TCU<br><br>"Don't give a piss bout nothing but the TIDE"<a href="https://t.co/uFhAUz12To">https://t.co/uFhAUz12To</a> <a href="https://t.co/hmeX9ZhaL7">pic.twitter.com/hmeX9ZhaL7</a>
The 6-foot-5, 285-pound offensive lineman chose Alabama over Florida State, Oklahoma, and TCU.
Haywood joins quarterback Keelon Russell, wideout Caleb Cunningham and cornerback Dijon Lee as the fourth five-star Class of 2025 prospect to commit to Alabama, per 247Sports.
Haywood also confirmed his commitment in a post to X.
The offensive tackle prospect told On3's Chad Simmons he "would have committed a long time ago" if longtime Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban had not announced his retirement in January.
The departure of Saban led Haywood to consider FSU and Oklahoma, but he ended up deciding on Alabama after finding out Saban had played a role in recruiting new head coach Kalen DeBoer.
"What really did it for me was when I found out that Nick Saban helped pick coach DeBoer to succeed him at Alabama," Haywood said, per Simmons. "Me sitting down, observing and watching coach DeBoer was a great experience.
"He wasn't micromanaging the coaches. He let them have fun with their parents. Coach DeBoer would sit back and be a very humble guy. He was very relaxed. To me, he is a chill dude."
Haywood's decision marks another in a line of recruiting victories for DeBoer following Saban's departure. The Crimson Tide brought in 10 recruits in June alone, and the addition of Haywood to the class lifts Alabama over Ohio State for No. 1 in the On3 team recruiting rankings, per On3's Hunter Shelton.
Originally a defensive lineman, Haywood transitioned to offensive tackle at Ryan High School in Denton, Texas.
247Sports scout Gabe Brooks projects Haywood as a player with "high-floor competency coupled with long-term developmental upside thanks to physical tools and functional athleticism," who "projects as a future high-major multi-year starter with the potential to become a coveted NFL Draft candidate."
Before that, Haywood could help the Crimson Tide remain one of the top programs in college football as the team heads into the post-Saban era.
