Five-Star QB Shocks College Football World by Turning Down $5.4 Million, Decommits from Penn State and Flips Commitment to Alabama Over Notre Dame and Florida State
In a move that has rocked the foundations of college football, five-star quarterback phenom Jaxon “Jax” Redding stunned fans and analysts alike by decommitting from Penn State and flipping his commitment to the University of Alabama—turning down a reported $5.4 million NIL package from other top programs including Notre Dame and Florida State.
The 6’4”, 215-pound dual-threat quarterback from Allen, Texas, had long been viewed as the face of Penn State’s 2025 recruiting class. Redding, known for his cannon arm and electrifying mobility, was dubbed the “next Vince Young” by 247Sports and ranked as the No. 2 overall player in the nation. For nearly a year, he reaffirmed his loyalty to the Nittany Lions on social media, appearing in multiple promotional videos and becoming the unofficial leader of their class.
That all changed on July 4th, just after midnight, when Redding dropped a bombshell tweet:
“I want to thank Coach Franklin and the entire Penn State family. This was the hardest decision of my life. But after prayer, reflection, and conversations with my family… I’m flipping my commitment. I’m headed to Tuscaloosa. #RollTide”
The announcement immediately sent shockwaves through recruiting circles.
Sources close to Redding’s camp reveal that both Notre Dame and Florida State made aggressive NIL pushes—reportedly offering between $4.2 and $5.4 million in endorsement deals, custom content series, and even a proposed equity stake in a sports drink startup. But Redding declined all of it.
“He’s old school,” said his father, Marcus Redding, a former Texas A&M linebacker. “Jax isn’t chasing money. He’s chasing greatness. He wants a natty, wants to play with the best, and get developed like a pro.”
Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer, now in his second year after taking over for Nick Saban, has already built a reputation for revitalizing the Tide’s offensive identity. Landing Redding is a major statement—especially after missing on key QB targets earlier in the cycle.
What makes the flip even more shocking is that Penn State, fresh off back-to-back 11-win seasons, had tailored its offensive strategy around Redding’s talents. Their offensive coordinator, Greg Roman, even visited the Redding household three times in June to lock in the commitment. Despite these efforts, the allure of Alabama’s legacy, NFL pipeline, and recent uptick in quarterback play was too much to pass up.
Reactions have been polarizing. Penn State fans flooded message boards with heartbreak and betrayal, while Alabama’s faithful erupted with joy. Even ESPN’s Paul Finebaum called it “one of the most seismic flips of the NIL era.”
“This isn’t just about Alabama getting a top QB,” said recruiting analyst Ari Wasserman. “It’s about a generational player saying, ‘I’ll earn my money later—I want to win now.’ That’s rare today.”
With this bold decision, Jaxon Redding has not only reshaped the 2025 recruiting landscape—he’s reignited the legend of the Crimson Tide, and maybe, just maybe, started a new dynasty of his own.
