Xavier Griffin always imagined playing college football for Alabama.

Griffin was born in Cullman and lived in Huntsville until he was 13 years old, basking in the tradition and history of Crimson Tide football.

Now a 5-star defensive recruit for Gainesville, Ga., Griffin originally committed to USC during the summer of 2024, but kept his options open. A recruiting visit and offer from Alabama culminated in Griffin’s commitment.

“I’ve been a fan and know so much about them already, the history,” said Griffin, who participated in Friday’s Hustle-Up 7on7 national tournament at the Hoover Met Complex. “There’s no doubt that I would want to play for them.”

The 6-foot-4, 205-pound EDGE/linebacker had offers from more than 25 schools, including most of the SEC along with Ohio State, Penn State, Notre Dame and more. He chose Alabama on June 29.

He’s ranked as high as the No. 8 overall player and top linebacker in the nation as well as the No. 1 player in Georgia by 247Sports.

Griffin is big, fast, versatile, athletic and has the ability to play multiple positions. He missed several games last season due to injury, but still managed 43 tackles — third best on the team — with 13 tackles for-loss and 6 sacks.

He had 52 tackles as a sophomore with a team-best 20 for-loss and 9 sacks, earning Region 8-6A first-team. Griffin was also an all-region basketball player a sophomore.

Gainesville coach Josh Niblett played at Alabama and previously coached at Hoover, Oxford and Oneonta. Niblett compiled a 236-58 record in the state with seven total state championships, six at Hoover. He has a 33-6 record in three seasons at Gainesville.

Niblett knows talent.

“He’s a special player in a lot of different ways,” Niblett said. “He can play second level for us or first level off the edge. He’s an unbelievable pass rusher so he’s got skills and talents that are going to take him a long way.

“What’s Alabama getting? Just getting a special kid because I know Alabama wants their coach to be right. They want to be back on top winning national championships and I’m alumni, so I want them back on top winning national championships.

“They’re bringing in kids that are going to be consistent, going to work hard, to do the little things. Kids that it means something to be at Alabama and it means something to him to be at Alabama. His family is from Alabama and they’re getting a kid that’s extremely talented. He’s the kid that’s going to allow them some opportunities like they have in the past to where they can move them around and create situations.”

Griffin was still considering choices after the Alabama offer.

“I really wasn’t sure yet because I was still going through the process,” he said. “But I felt like once I got to it and just keeping everything, the main thing, I mean, there was no doubt. Once I went on my official visit there was no doubt.”

There were numerous factors in choosing Alabama.

“The biggest for me was the brotherhood I felt when I was there,” Griffin said. “I felt a better connection with that than with any other school.”