Alabama football flips Syracuse commit in 2027 recruiting class
Michael Nnabuife is a three-star tight end from Maryland who had been committed to Syracuse.
Olivia Bennett 
Alabama football has officially strengthened its 2027 recruiting efforts by securing a commitment from a high-upside prospect previously pledged to another program.
Michael Nnabuife, a standout tight end out of Baltimore’s St. Frances Academy, has flipped his commitment to the Crimson Tide. The announcement was confirmed Saturday by the program’s NIL collective, Yea Alabama.
Scouting the New Addition
Standing at 6-foot-5 and weighing in at 250 pounds, Nnabuife brings significant size to the tight end position. According to the Rivals Industry ranking, the Maryland native is considered a three-star prospect. Nationally, he is currently rated as the No. 916 player overall and the No. 47 tight end in the 2027 cycle.
Building the 2027 Class
Nnabuife becomes the seventh player to join Alabama’s growing 2027 recruiting class. He aligns himself with a talented group that includes five-star quarterback Elijah Haven, four-star linebacker Kenneth Simon II, four-star running back Nigel Newkirk, four-star quarterback Trent Seaborn, three-star edge defender AJ Pauley, and three-star tight end Oakley Keegan.
Strategic Recruiting Approach
While the momentum continues to build, head coach Kalen DeBoer has made it clear that the 2027 class will look different in terms of volume compared to previous years, which saw 27 signees in 2026 and 21 in 2025.
"I think it will be much less than what we’ve had the last two seasons," DeBoer said during the SEC spring meetings in Miramar Beach, Florida. "But a lot of that is because we have retained well and brought in a group of transfers and don’t have many seniors."
