Alabama football 2027 commit shuts down recruitment

An Alabama football commitment from the class of 2027 has shut down his recruitment.

Three-star defensive end Avrian (AJ) Pauley out of McGill-Toolen Catholic High School in Mobile revealed his decision to 247Sports on Saturday. Pauley committed to Alabama while in Tuscaloosa for the annual A-Day event in April.

He’s a 6-foot-5, 265 pound lineman that chose the Crimson Tide over a list of finalists including Michigan, Florida State and Ole Miss. Two of those schools were pushing to get Pauley on or back on campus.

Per Brett Greenberg of 247Sports:

“Florida State was set to receive a trip the following weekend (June 5-7) and Michigan was pushing hard to get Pauley on campus the next two weeks (June 12-14, June 19-21). None of those trips took place and now Alabama will be the only program receiving visits before the Early Signing Period in December.”

Pauley is one of three defensive line prospects in Alabama’s 2027 recruiting class, along with three-star EDGE rushers Tyler Younger (Norcross, Georgia) and Jeremiah Beverly (Hillcrest High School, Tuscaloosa), both of whom committed to the Tide this past week. Rivals lists Pauley as the nation’s 69th best defensive end.

Alabama landed its fifth recruit in the past week on Saturday when four-star wide receiver Osani Gayles committed to the Tide over Washington and Stanford. The Crimson Tide now has 13 total commitments in their 2027 recruiting class.

Gayles was the ninth commitment for coach Kalen DeBoer and staff since May 31. Alabama’s 2027 class is No. 34 in Rivals’ updated Industry Football Team Recruiting Rankings. 247Sports ranks the Tide’s class No. 49.

Follow us at @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook, for ongoing coverage of Alabama Crimson Tide news, notes and opinions.