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Alabama Lands Commitment From Elite 2026 Prospect

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Alec Musa | Last updated Jun 23, 2025 2:34 AM ET

The Alabama Crimson Tide had a healthy amount of recruits visit Tuscaloosa this weekend.

Not among them was 2026 three-star defensive lineman JJ Finch. Instead, the six-foot-three, 260-pound first-level defender took his talents to the Miami Hurricanes on an official visit. He also took official visits to the Tennessee Volunteers and Michigan Wolverines during the beginning of June.

Nevertheless, Finch has come to a decision following five official visits and while holding more than 20 offers. On Sunday, Finch pledged his allegiance to the Crimson Tide, per 247Sports.

Alongside Alabama, Tennessee, Michigan, and Miami, he also holds offers from the Purdue Boilermakers, Kansas Jayhawks, Kentucky Wildcats, LSU Tigers, Michigan State Spartans, Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Ohio State Buckeyes, Penn State Nittany Lions, Cincinnati Bearcats, Florida Gators, and Indiana Hoosiers, among others.

Finch becomes the eighth commit for head coach Kalen DeBoer for the 2026 class. He joins four-star offensive lineman Samuelu Utu, and top quarterback recruit Jett Thomalla as Alabama's June commits.

Meanwhile, he is now the second interior defensive lineman to verbally commit to Alabama for 2026, joining four-star Kamhariyan Johnson.

In ten games last season, Finch collected 41 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, and three sacks for Warren Central High School in Indianapolis. He had 12 tackles as a freshman in 2023.

Warren Central went 10-2 in 2024, their second year with Finch on the defensive line. They won just five games during his first year and posted a 6-6 record in their last season without Finch wreaking havoc on opposing backfields.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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