Kalen DeBoer Still Pursues In-State RB Ezavier Crowell Despite Major Flip
On a muggy Monday afternoon in June, the Alabama Crimson Tide secured a major recruiting victory, flipping four-star running back Javari Burnett from his commitment to Illinois. The buzz was immediate. Burnett, a bruising back out of Ocala, Florida, had long been considered a crown jewel in the Illini’s 2025 class. But when head coach Kalen DeBoer stepped in, backed by Alabama’s storied tradition and a revamped offensive vision, the pitch proved too compelling. Burnett flipped, sending shockwaves through the SEC and Big Ten alike.
Yet even amid the celebration in Tuscaloosa, DeBoer’s eyes remained fixed on a more local prize: Ezavier Crowell.
Crowell, the elusive four-star running back out of Montgomery’s Jefferson High, has long been a priority target for Alabama. Standing 5’11” and weighing in at 195 pounds, Crowell’s combination of vision, burst, and football IQ has made him one of the most coveted prospects in the 2025 class. He’s a homegrown talent—raised on Crimson Tide football, but somehow still uncommitted. Auburn made an early push. Georgia’s been lurking. Even Oregon sent a coordinator down south this spring to watch him work out. But Alabama refuses to yield.
“We love Burnett, no question,” a Tide staffer who asked to remain anonymous shared on Tuesday. “But Crowell? He’s different. He’s legacy material.”
That sentiment seems to permeate every corner of the Tide’s Mal M. Moore Athletic Facility this summer. DeBoer, now in his second year as head coach, is reshaping the identity of Alabama football. Gone is the stoic, defensive-first mentality that defined the Saban era. In its place is a balanced, explosive, and quarterback-friendly system. Crowell, known for his ability to catch passes out of the backfield and break off chunk plays, is seen as a potential centerpiece of that evolution.
Insiders say Alabama’s staff visited Crowell’s family last week in a quiet, off-calendar meeting. Offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan reportedly spent nearly an hour detailing how Crowell would be deployed in the Tide’s multi-back packages, alongside Burnett. The idea? A thunder-and-lightning duo that could dominate SEC defenses for years.
Crowell, for his part, remains patient.
“I’m blessed to have options,” he told reporters during a 7-on-7 tournament last weekend. “I see what Alabama’s doing. They’re definitely making things interesting.”
The next step? An official visit to Tuscaloosa in early July. That visit, sources say, will be pivotal. Crowell’s family, particularly his mother—a lifelong Tide fan—are leaning Crimson. Still, Georgia and Auburn remain in contact daily.
DeBoer knows he has work to do. But with Burnett already on board and a fresh offensive identity taking root, Alabama’s message to Ezavier Crowell is simple: The future runs through you.
And in a state where football is religion, that may be all the sermon Crowell needs.
