'I knew they were the one. I had to commit': Elite Alabama target shuts down recruitment as SEC rivals apply pressure for flip

Chris Booker, a four-star offensive lineman from Hapeville Charter Career Academy in Hapeville, Georgia, has reaffirmed his verbal commitment to the Alabama Crimson Tide, effectively ending his recruitment process after an official visit to the program.

“I always knew Alabama was the one,” Booker told Touchdown Alabama after he committed. “I just had to commit.”

Booker, a standout in the 2026 recruiting class, had previously visited Florida and Georgia before deciding to focus solely on Alabama. The Crimson Tide currently have eight verbal commitments for the 2026 class, with Booker being a key addition.

While verbal commitments are non-binding until players sign a letter of intent during their senior year, Booker appears steadfast in his pledge to Alabama and head coach Kalen DeBoer, despite the unpredictable nature of recruiting in the NIL era.

Standing at 6-foot-4 and weighing 285 pounds, Booker is a dynamic and agile offensive lineman, known for his ability to block effectively in open space and advance to the second level. He knows it, too.

“I feel that I down block, double-team block and pick up blitzes well,” Brooks said.

His versatility and skill have also attracted offers from programs such as Ole Miss, UCF, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Mississippi State, Western Michigan, and Wake Forest.

Booker joins fellow four-star offensive lineman Samuelu Utu in Alabama’s 2026 recruiting class. 

According to On3 rankings, the Crimson Tide have yet to secure a five-star prospect for 2026, though the program has consistently signed at least three five-star recruits each year since 2021, including 2025 standout quarterback Keelon Russell.