Five-Star Georgia Native Xavier Griffin Headlines Alabama’s Pivotal Official Visit Weekend

With the summer recruiting calendar heating up, the University of Alabama is preparing for a crucial weekend of official visits — and all eyes are on five-star linebacker Xavier Griffin.

Hailing from Gainesville, Georgia, Griffin is one of the top defensive prospects in the 2026 class and headlines a star-studded group visiting Tuscaloosa this weekend.

The Crimson Tide kicked off their official visit schedule last weekend but came away without any commitments. Head coach Kalen DeBoer and his staff will look to reverse that trend over the coming days, and Griffin represents the centerpiece of those efforts. Alongside fellow five-star prospect Jireh Edwards, Griffin is a top priority for the Crimson Tide’s 2026 recruiting class.

Griffin, a 6-foot-3, 200-pound linebacker, is currently ranked as the No. 2 linebacker in the nation and one of the top 10 overall prospects in the 2026 class according to the 247Sports Composite rankings.

His elite athleticism, versatility, and football IQ have made him a national target, with powerhouse programs such as Alabama, Florida State, Texas, Ohio State, and USC all competing for his signature.

Griffin has scheduled official visits to each of these schools, with his Alabama visit being the second of the summer tour.

Adding urgency to Alabama’s efforts, Griffin is set to announce his college commitment on June 29. While no school has secured his pledge just yet, Alabama has already received a Crystal Ball prediction from 247Sports projecting him to land in Tuscaloosa.

That momentum, combined with this weekend’s visit, gives DeBoer and his staff a critical opportunity to solidify their standing with one of the premier players in the class.

Griffin’s visit comes at a time when the Crimson Tide are looking to build on an already promising start to the 2026 class. Five-star cornerback Jorden Edmonds is currently the lone five-star commitment in the class, and adding Griffin — along with potentially landing Edwards — could push Alabama’s class toward the top of the national rankings.

Griffin’s recruitment is about more than rankings. His leadership on and off the field, high motor, and natural playmaking instincts make him the kind of cornerstone defender Alabama traditionally builds championship defenses around. With multiple top-tier programs vying for his services, this weekend in Tuscaloosa could prove pivotal.

If Alabama can make a strong impression during Griffin’s official visit, the Tide may soon add a game-changing talent to their future linebacker corps — and send a clear message to the rest of college football that the DeBoer era means business.