The Alabama football program landed a coveted in-state prospect in the 2027 class Tuesday night, securing a commitment from 3-star offensive lineman Stafford Willis.
Rivals reported that Willis, a 6-foot-5 product from Arab (Ala.) High School, chose the Crimson Tide over offers from South Carolina, UCLA, Virginia and Virginia Tech.
Willis earned snaps at both left tackle and right tackle as a junior at Arab along with playing a full season on the Knights basketball team. He visited both Alabama and Arkansas last weekend before pledging to the Crimson Tide.
Willis is the 11th public commitment for Alabama in the 2027 recruiting cycle and is the only offensive lineman in the class. He is the third in-state prospect in the class, joining Thompson quarterback Trent Seaborn and McGill-Toolen defensive lineman Avrian Pauley.
Alabama went 11-4 overall and 7-1 in SEC play last season, advancing to the 2025-26 College Football Playoffs for the first time in coach Kalen DeBoer’s tenure. The Crimson Tide downed Oklahoma in a CFP first-round game but was thumped by eventual national champion Indiana in the Rose Bowl.
Alabama kicks off the 2026 season at home Sept. 5 against East Carolina (Noon ET, ABC) and begins SEC play Sept. 12 at Kentucky (3:30 pm ET, ABC).
An APSE national award-winning writer and editor, David Wasson has almost four decades of experience in the print journalism business in Florida and Alabama. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and several national magazines and websites. His Twitter handle: @JustDWasson.
