Alabama lands monster commitment from Georgia
Elijah Pritchett, four-star offensive tackle from Carver High School in Columbus, Georgia, announced his commitment on Tuesday afternoon to the University of Alabama. Pritchett chose the Crimson Tide over Florida State, Georgia and USC.
Pritchett took four visits to Alabama this year including the Crimson Tide's home opener against Mercer. He attended the A-Day game, took an official visit in June and also returned to Tuscaloosa in July for the Champions Cook Out.
Many pegged Florida State as the favorite for Pritchett following his visit to Tallahassee for the Notre Dame game. However, after visiting Alabama again with his family and the winless season thus far for the Seminoles momentum shifted back in favor of the Crimson Tide.
Pritchett also took a visit to Georgia this past weekend. He was scheduled to also visit USC this month prior to the Trojans firing Clay Helton after losing to Stanford on September 11. The Pac-12 program was eliminated from competition.
Alabama considered Pritchett a top priority target on the offensive front from the very early stages of his recruitment. He is commitment No.15 for the Crimson Tide as he joins Tyler Booker and Dayne Shor as Alabama's offensive line commitments. Alabama signed the best offensive line class in 2021. Alabama continues to have a tremendous amount of success recruiting the position under new offensive line coach Doug Marrone who replaced Kyle Flood (Texas).
"Rather than saying what all I like about them (Alabama) I'll say something that is different- I have a connection with the commitments at Alabama with guys like Ty (Simpson) and Emmanuel (Henderson) that I don't have at other schools," Pritchett told BamaInsider after attending the Champions Cook Out.
"I connect with more people at Alabama than anywhere else. I was around Ty and Emmanuel this past weekend. They have been recruiting me hard to Alabama and trying to get me to come there. It's been good."
Pritchett announced his commitment via CBSSports HQ on Tuesday afternoon. He pointed out the championships and relationships as key factors in his decision.
"I committed to Alabama mainly because of the coaches, players and environment," he told CBSSports HQ. "No other schools can show me rings on rings on rings. I like what they are doing over there a lot! Everyone over here is a big Georgia fan. I have to go my own way. This is the best decision I had."
"I went to the Alabama/Mercer game. I told Coach Saban I wanted to be a part of something special. I told him I wanted to solidly commit. His whole day brightened up after that. He had a smile on his face the rest of the day."
National take
"Pritchett is an extraordinarily physical offensive tackle who has only gotten bigger, stronger, tougher and meaner from his junior season early into his senior year. He completely walls off defenders to open up running lanes the size of a five-lane highway, he overpowers opponents with strength and sheer determination and he has light feet to not allow edge rushers an outside angle to get into the backfield.
"Is he playing elite national competition every week? No. But Pritchett is definitely one of the best offensive tackles in this class and if we're talking about projection, on his 6-foot-7 frame, he's playing at 295 now and can easily handle some additional good weight to be even stronger and tougher. Here's a shocker: Alabama is getting a good one on the offensive line."- Rivals national recruiting analyst Adam Gorney
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