Former Auburn transfer and star Tennessee Tech infielder Ed Johnson announced Monday he will be returning to the SEC for one final year, committing to Alabama and head coach Brad Bohannon.

“First off, I would like to thank my coaches and teammates at Tennessee Tech for growing me as a man and baseball player for the last two years,” Johnson wrote on Instagram. “After careful consideration and many prayers, I’m blessed to say that I will be finishing my athletic and academic career at the University of Alabama. RTR!”

Johnson played just 6 games in his 2 seasons at Auburn before transferring to the Golden Eagles in 2021-22 for his redshirt sophomore year. He was a strong addition for Tennessee Tech in a 30-27 season, often batting first and ranking second on the team in batting average at .331 with a .406 on-base percentage. Johnson also totaled 57 hits, 5 home runs and led the team with 44 runs scored on the year.

The news comes just hours after star infielder Zane Denton reportedly decided to transfer for his senior season. Johnson played primarily at shortstop for the Golden Eagles, but his veteran presence will prove a big get for the Crimson Tide in 2023.

Alabama narrowly missed the 2022 NCAA Tournament with a final record of 31-27.