“I’m home!” the 6-foot-3.5-inch Hilson tweeted, tagging various coaches including Coleman Hutzler, who was recently confirmed as Mississippi State’s defensive coordinator.
Hilson was ranked as the No. 6 player in Florida and 48th-best recruit overall, according to 247Sports Composite.
Hilson released a top 10 that included Georgia, Florida State, Ohio State and others on Dec. 2. Hilson is UA’s ninth player in the class and second edge rusher, joining Charles Henderson’s Zion Grady.
Hilson attended a camp in Tuscaloosa this summer after a 9.5-sack sophomore year. After winning his second straight championship with Cocoa, and adding 14 more sacks, Hiilson found a corner of Bragg Memorial Stadium and called Nick Saban, relaying news of his decision.
“He said, ‘A guy like you we would love coming off the edge, and you would fit in our defensive scheme,’” Hilson told Florida Today.
It’s Alabama’s first commit in the class of 2025 since Grady, who revealed his choice in November. The Tide currently has the No. 1 class among juniors, with all its members being at least four stars.
The Tide’s class of 2024 is entering the home stretch with signing day on Dec. 20. Saban’s group is fourth nationally with its own set of recent state champions: Clay-Chalkville’s Jaylen Mbakwe and Central-Phenix Ciity’s Rydarrius Morgan and Isaia Faga.
Alabama’s current class can get a boost if Saraland’s five-star and reigning Mr. Football Ryan Williams reclassifies to 2024.
He would immediately be one of the best seniors in the country and mark the second year in a row (Dezz Ricks) that Alabama snagged a late arrival to the recruiting cycle. Williams and Mbakwe put on a show during the AHSAA Super 7 finale on Friday night in Bryant-Denny Stadium.
