Alabama football has its first running back commitment of the 2027 recruiting class.
Nigel Newkirk, a four-star running back out of Gainesville, Georgia, announced he would commit to Alabama, choosing the Crimson Tide over programs such as LSU and Ohio State.
Newkirk had originally set his commitment date July 1.
Newkirk is the seventh member of Alabama‘s 2027 recruiting class, joining players such as Louisiana five-star quarterback Elijah Haven, Alabaster four-star quarterback Trent Seaborn and New York three-star tight end Oakley Keegan.
Newkirk hails from the same high school program that produced 2026 five-star linebacker Xavier Griffin and four-star linebacker Jamarion Matthews.
What Nigel Newkirk brings to Alabama football 2027 recruiting class
Alabama is rebuilding its runnng back room.
After landing five-star EJ Crowell and three-star Trae’shawn Brown in the 2026 recruiting class to build a room that finished second-to-last in the SEC in rushing last year, Newkirk is the first back to join the Crimson Tide in 2027.
Standing at 5-foot-11, 200 pounds, Newkirk stands and performs as a bell-cow back, one that had 1,496 rushing yards and 19 rushes as a junior at Gainesville, averaging 8.1 yards per touch, per 247Sports.
Newkirk is the No. 16 running back and the No. 230 overall player in the 2027 recruiting class, per 247Sports’ composite rankins.
Alabama football 2027 recruiting class
- Elijah Haven: Quarterback, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
- Oakley Keegan: Tight end, Liverpool, New York
- Colt Lumpris: Tight end, Lawrenceville, New Jersey
- Nigel Newkirk: Running back, Gainesville, Georgia
- Avrian Pauley: Defensive line, Mobile, Alabama
- Trent Seaborn: Quarterback, Alabaster, Alabama
- Stevan Thornton III: Edge, Cairo, Georgia
- Kenneth Simon II: Linebacker, Brentwood, Tennessee
Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at cgay@gannett.com or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter or Instagram @colingaytnews.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: 2027 RB Nigel Newkirk commits to Alabama football, analysis