Alabama Football Adds Second Running Back in 2027 Recruiting Class
Alabama football has landed a commitment from 2027 running back Tai Phillips, per On3's Hayes Fawcett.
The 5-foot-11, 180-pounder out of Irmo High School in Columbia, South Carolina, is ranked as the No. 856 prospect nationally, the No. 64 running back and the No. 17 player in his state, per the 247 Sports Composite.
Phillips is the second running back in the Crimson Tide's 2027 class, joining four-star Nigel Newkirk from Gainesville, Georgia. As for Alabama's other commits: 5-star quarterback Elijah Haven, 4-star linebacker Kenneth Simon II, 4-star quarterback Trent Seaborn, 3-star defensive linemen AJ Pauley and Stevan Thornton III, 3-star tight ends Oakley Keegan and Michael Nnabuife and 5-star kicker Luke Cody.
Alabama's Potential Running Backs for the 2027 Season
Ordered by seniority if everyone stays another year
- Khalifa Keith, redshirt senior
- Daniel Hill, senior
- Kevin Riley, redshirt junior
- AK Dear, redshirt sophomore
- EJ Crowell, sophomore
- Trae'shawn Brown, sophomore
- Nigel Newkirk, freshman
- Tai Phillips, freshman
Alabama's 2027 Recruiting Class
- 5-star - Quarterback - Elijah Haven - Baton Rouge, La.
- 5-star - Kicker - Luke Cody - Lumberton, Texas
- 4-star - Linebacker - Kenneth Simon II - Brentwood, Tenn.
- 4-star - Running Back - Nigel Newkirk - Gainesville, Ga.
- 4-star - Quarterback - Trent Seaborn - Alabaster, Ala.
- 3-star - Running Back - Tai Phillips - Columbia, S.C.
- 3-star - Defensive Line - AJ Pauley - Mobile, Ala.
- 3-star - Defensive Line - Stevan Thornton III - Cairo, Ga. (re-opened recruitment on Thursday but hasn't officially decommitted)
- 3-star - Tight End - Michael Nnabuife - Baltimore, Md.
- 3-star - Tight End - Oakley Keegan - Liverpool, N.Y.
Alabama's 2028 Recruiting Class
- 3-star - Quarterback - Charles Scott Jr. - Richmond, Va.
- 3-star - Linebacker - Dustin Henry - Laurel, Md.
Alabama's 2027 Decommitments
- Colt Lumpris, 4-star TE, 6-6, 225 pounds – committed to Michigan
- Nash Johnson III, 3-star CB, 6-0, 170 pounds – committed to Auburn
- Jabarrius Garror, 4-star EDGE, 6-2 1/2, 215 pounds
- Jatori Williams, 4-star IOL, 6-5, 320 pounds – committed to Miami
- Ba'Roc Willis, 3-star EDGE, 6-3, 220 pounds – committed to Colorado
BamaCentral is keeping track of the commits with this link.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com/college/alabama as Alabama Football Adds Second Running Back in 2027 Recruiting Class.
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This story was originally published June 8, 2026 at 6:44 PM.