Jackson running back E.J. Crowell and his mother, Traketa Roberts, celebrate after he committed to the Crimson Tide Thursday evening in Jackson. (Gayle Gunter/Call News)
E.J. Crowell is overcome with emotion as his sister NuNu Crowell begins to embrace him after he announced his commitment to Alabama Thursday evening in Jackson. (Gayle Gunter/Call News)
By JIMMY WIGFIELD
JACKSON — Few in the crowd that jammed into the Jackson Community House Thursday evening knew where E.J. Crowell had decided to play college football, perhaps because Crowell himself didn’t know for sure until the early-morning hours.
“It was last night,” he said. “Probably one-something in the morning.”
Even Jackson coach Cody Flournoy claimed he didn’t know ahead of time, so those in the audience who came to witness the next pages in the history of the nation’s No. 1-ranked running back prospect hung anxiously on each of Crowell’s words.
Standing before his name in lights, Crowell sucked in a deep breath, exhaled and, reading from his cell phone, said: “After a lot of prayer and consideration, I’ve decided to announce I’m continuing my athletic career at …”
With friends, family and fans holding their breath, Crowell then stood before an array of caps — Alabama, Georgia, Texas and Auburn — before choosing the crimson one with the white script A. Those in the packed room sprang to their feet, their screams of delight reverberating off the walls.
“Since growing up, I’ve been watching them,” Crowell said. “I felt like I wanted to be a part of it, so whenever I got the offer in my freshman year, I knew I was going there. It’s just a dream come true.”
Crowell said Texas was his second choice, followed by Georgia and Auburn.
“I love Texas but Alabama is home for me,” he said. “I wanted to stay closer to home.”
His mother, Traketa Roberts, danced with her son after his announcement as the crowd cheered and a train whistle was heard over the roar.
“It was really tough for him,” she said. “He prayed a lot. It’s a great thing and I’m a proud mother. And blessed.”
In the end, Crowell honored a promise to his father and a lifelong ambition to wear crimson.
“Growing up, me and my dad, my brother, my mom, my sister, we used to watch Alabama every Saturday,” Crowell said. “I used to tell my dad I was going to get an offer from there and go there. I made a promise to my dad that I was going to go to Alabama. He was watching today and I made him happy. He’s living out the dream.”
Crowell (6-0, 220) — a five-star prospect who is rated the nation’s No. 1 running back in the 2026 class by Rivals — reclassified so he can graduate a year early and he expects to play as a freshman for the Tide. In two varsity seasons, he has rushed for 3,701 yards, 56 touchdowns and averaged 11 yards per carry, often not playing full games.
“I just feel like I’d be a great fit there and go in and help turn the Alabama program around,” he said.
Crowell said he disagrees with those who contend the offense of Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer and offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb de-emphasizes the running game.
“Coach Grubb went over the offense with me and how he’ll use me in the offense, so I feel like I can go there and make an impact,” Crowell said. “People say he don’t run the ball, which I don’t believe, so we’ll see this year and hopefully he proves everybody wrong about running the ball.”
Flournoy said Crowell will bring two things to the Tide offense.
“Yeah, he’s going to bring me to Alabama,” Flournoy joked. “I’m going to go up there and watch him on Saturdays. I’ve never had a guy that was this highly recruited. He’s a complete back and if he needs to carry it 20 or 30 times a game, he will. He’s a five-star for a reason. It’s because he runs with power, he’s strong but he’s agile. He can catch the ball out of the backfield. If you create a player, that’s the one you create.”
Crowell would not have committed to the Tide if he felt he would be only a part of a token running game.
“I’m going to bring a lot of physical play,” he said. “Alabama is going to get the best out of me. I’m going to go hard each and every day to prove I’m one of the best running backs in the country.”
Flournoy said he expects Crowell and his versatility to be a vital part of the Tide’s offense.
“I’ve talked to E.J. about that,” Flournoy said. “Are you going to a place that’s going to give you the ball? I don’t know what this offense is going to look like under Grubb. We all want to see. They score points. E.J. can work out of the backfield and catch balls in space and I think he’s still going to be a valued piece to anybody’s offense. Will he carry it 30 times a game? I don’t know. But I think DeBoer and those guys are still trying to figure out how to be consistent in the SEC. And, of course, all of us old SEC folks are like, hey, you’ve got to have a run game. I think you see him playing as a freshman, barring injury and everything. I think he plays early. Absolutely.”
While Flournoy said Crowell’s commitment to Alabama is “rock solid,” he won’t sign until December, so the efforts to change his mind — and to keep that crimson cap on his head — will continue.
“You know, that was a big to-do today,” Flournoy said, referring to the festive ballroom feel of the event, which featured balloons, posters and catered food. “I mean, it’d be hard to back out of this. But I’ve seen weirder things. As long as Bama has a good, solid year this year and everything and his relationship is good up there … but if something happens and Bama falls flat on their face, he may not go to Bama but I don’t see that happening.”
Crowell made the last of his official visits to Alabama last weekend, where Nick Saban came out of retirement to greet him along with DeBoer. Saban offered Crowell when he was a freshman but Crowell had never met the legendary coach until his official visit to campus.
“He told me the best kids in state stay in state,” Crowell said. “I was a little nervous talking to him but I loosened up. That’s the first time I met him. I’ve always seen him on TV and I wanted to meet him.”
Crowell’s commitment represented the third Jackson player to announce a major college choice in 24 hours. The day before, defensive backs Jamarrion Gordon and Keegan Chapman committed to Bill Belichick and North Carolina.
Two more highly rated Aggies have yet to commit. Landon Duckworth, the nation’s top-rated dual-threat quarterback, said he will announce between Auburn and South Carolina in July. Wideout Keeyun “Red” Chapman, like Duckworth a four-star prospect, has offers from Colorado, Florida State, South Carolina, Central Florida, Southern Cal, Arkansas and TCU.
Crowell and Duckworth planned to make their commitments before the season starts so they can concentrate on helping Jackson win its second straight Class 4A state championship and perhaps secure the Aggies’ place as one of the greatest teams in state history.
“That’s the focus, winning another Blue Map, working hard every day, just keeping the same mentality we had last year,” Duckworth said.
Duckworth said a place in history doesn’t concern him, although he already has five state championship rings in basketball, track and football.
“I really don’t even get into stuff like that,” he said. “I just go out, work hard and just play. I mean, it’ll come.”
Crowell said winning another state championship won’t be easy despite Jackson’s talent.
“The plan is to go back-to-back but we’ve got to work hard and just keep pushing day by day,” he said.
