Four-star tackle Anthony Blalock Jr. is off Alabama's 2028 board after a summer pledge. Here's what led to it and what the Tide does next at tackle.

Four-star tackle Anthony Blalock Jr. is off Alabama's 2028 board after a summer pledge. Here's what led to it and what the Tide does next at tackle.

Four-star offensive lineman Anthony Blalock Jr. has reportedly decommitted from Alabama, per Rivals' Hayes Fawcett. The Ohio native had been pledged to the Tide since July, and his exit leaves Alabama's 2028 class without an offensive line commitment. If you're a Bama fan, don't panic yet. But don't shrug it off either. 

Key takeaways

Blalock hadn't been back to campus since he committed and recently announced fall visits that didn't include Alabama. 

Alabama is down to five 2028 commits and has no offensive line pledge. 

It's the second decommitment from the class this month, after linebacker Ryquan Butler.

My Take

I don't love it, but I'm not calling this a crisis. Alabama didn't lose a kid who was locked in and happy. It lost a kid who never seemed all that attached after the summer, and that's a recruiting-relationship problem more than a talent problem. The staff needs to figure out why a top-300 lineman went quiet for two and a half months.

 My prediction: Blalock lands at a school closer to home or one that gets him on campus more than once this fall.