Alabama has landed a commitment from Dunlap (Ill.) High tight end Mack Sutter.
The 6-foot-5, 230-pound pass-catcher announced his commitment to the Tide on Thursday. One of the top 2026 recruits in the Midwest, Sutter was also considering Ohio State, Illinois, and Ole Miss. He took an official visit to Tuscaloosa last week and was a significant target for coach Kalen DeBoer.
Sutter is a 4-star recruit in the industry-generated 247 Composite. He’s the top-ranked prospect from the state of Illinois and the sixth-ranked tight end in the class. In the national player rankings, Sutter sits at No. 80 overall.
Sometimes a guy is just best described as a “ball player.” Sutter is one of those prospects. He’s an above-the-rim finisher on the basketball court. He’s a dynamic athlete on the gridiron. And his father, Ed Sutter, was a tackling machine for Northwestern in the 90s and a 5-year linebacker in the NFL. Sutter has gotten snaps for Dunlap at quarterback, wideout, tight end, edge rusher, and linebacker.
As a junior last fall, he completed 6 of his 11 pass attempts for 119 yards. He ran 4 times for 21 yards. He brought in 35 receptions for 505 yards and 7 touchdowns. And he recorded 36 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 6 sacks, 1 pick-6, and 2 forced fumbles.
His proficiency on defense suggests that blocking prowess at the next level shouldn’t be an issue. His athleticism and size make him a contested-catch option in short-yardage situations and red zone spots. In DeBoer’s offense, Sutter projects well.
With his pledge, Alabama now holds 12 known commitments in the 2026 cycle. Sutter was the second top-100 recruit to commit to Alabama on Thursday, joining Jackson running back Ezavier Crowell. The class ranks 11th nationally, according to the Composite. You can see Sutter’s highlight tape below, via Hudl:
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.
