American’s top safety chooses Alabama over Michigan, Ohio State, and Tennessee, shocking college football.

Gridiron Coup: Nation’s No. 1 Safety Malachi Brooks Selects Alabama Over Michigan, Ohio State, and Tennessee

In a stunning turn that has reverberated across the college football landscape, five-star safety Malachi Brooks of Jacksonville (FL) Christian Academy announced on Wednesday evening that he would join the Alabama Crimson Tide. Brooks, long regarded as the consensus top safety in the Class of 2025, spurned final visits to Michigan, Ohio State, and Tennessee in favor of Nick Saban’s storied program – a decision that instantly reshapes recruiting races nationwide.

From Under-the-Radar to Unanimous No. 1

Brooks’ ascension to the summit of recruiting rankings was anything but overnight. A multi-sport athlete in his early teens, he gravitated toward football by age 14, exhibiting rare ball skills and sideline-to-sideline range. By his junior year, he’d already racked up 85 tackles, eight interceptions, and three defensive touchdowns, earning the attention of every major recruiting service.

• ESPN, 247Sports, and Rivals each tabbed Brooks as the nation’s No. 1 safety entering the spring signing window, lauding his combination of size (6′ 2″, 200 lbs), instincts, and leadership on and off the field.
• He earned invitations to the Elite 11, the All-American Bowl, and the Nike Opening Finals, where he consistently dominated competition.

Yet for all the accolades, Brooks remained character-first, stressing fit and development in his recruitment. “This isn’t just about where I play; it’s about who guides me, who I can trust, and how I can grow into the man I want to be after football,” he told reporters on signing day.

The Final Four: A Recruiting War of the Titans

Brooks narrowed his list to four finalists—Alabama, Michigan, Ohio State, and Tennessee—after months of official visits and private evaluations.

1. Alabama: Under new head coach Kalen DeBoer, the Tide have leaned into defensive back development, producing first-round DB picks in four of the last six NFL drafts. Brooks spent last weekend on Tuscaloosa’s campus, praising the state-of-the-art athlete performance center and meeting one-on-one with secondary coach Charles Kelly.
2. Michigan: Jim Harbaugh’s Wolverines, coming off back-to-back College Football Playoff appearances, showcased a winning culture and plans to deploy Brooks as a hybrid strong safety in Don Brown’s aggressive scheme.
3. Ohio State: Ryan Day’s Buckeyes, seeking defensive consistency after a roller-coaster 2024, projected Brooks as a centerpiece to shore up Big Ten offenses that test secondaries weekly.
4. Tennessee: Josh Heupel’s Vols, fresh off an SEC East title run, enticed Brooks with the promise of immediate playing time and a fast-paced defense where his playmaking would be on full display.

Brooks publicly visited all four campuses in May and June, attending position drills, team meetings, and community service events. Despite Michigan’s playoff pedigree and Ohio State’s national profile, whispers throughout the industry hinted that Alabama held a narrow edge in staff rapport and NFL trajectory.

Why Alabama? The Deciding Factors

Several key factors swayed Brooks toward the Tide:

• Defensive Back Legacy: Over the last two decades, Alabama has produced a who’s who of NFL safeties and cornerbacks—Minkah Fitzpatrick, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Patrick Surtain II, and others. Brooks called that lineage “inspirational,” noting that “if you want to be great at DB, you go to Alabama.”
• Coaching Continuity: While Saban’s departure initially concerned recruits, DeBoer’s swift hire of Charles Kelly (from Georgia) and defensive coordinator Kevin Sherrer (from Florida State) reassured Brooks that the secondary would remain elite.
• Immediate Impact: With veteran safety DJ James graduating, there’s an immediate hole at free safety. Alabama’s depth chart shows only one upperclassman backed by three true freshmen commits—Brooks slid right into the “day-one starting” conversation.
• Player Development and NIL: Crimson Tide recruits continue to land high-value NIL partnerships; Brooks has already secured local endorsements and expects more by aligning with Alabama’s marketing machine.

On Wednesday night, Brooks reflected on his commitment:

“This is where my heart feels at home. Coach DeBoer’s vision, the way Coach Kelly connects with DBs, the tradition—they spoke to me. I know I’ll grow here, on and off the field, and be prepared for whatever comes next.”

Reactions Across the Football World

The announcement set off a firestorm on social media and pundit shows:

• Nick Saban (albeit now an advisor): “Malachi Brooks is the prototype of the modern safety—versatile, tough, and intelligent. We’re thrilled he’s joining our family.”
• Jim Harbaugh (Michigan): “We made a strong pitch, but Mally [Brooks] chose Alabama. We respect his decision and will keep recruiting great players.”
• Ryan Day (Ohio State): “Malachi is a special player. We offered him the world, but he felt Alabama was best for him. We’ll continue to build our class.”
• Josh Heupel (Tennessee): “Losing a player of his caliber hurts, but it’s part of this business. We’ll get back on the road.”

Recruiting analysts weighed in:

“This is massive for Alabama’s class—Brooks instantly elevates them to the No. 1 overall group,” said Tom Lemming of Rivals.
“Losing Brooks is a tough blow for Michigan and Ohio State; those programs now have to pivot quickly,” added Charlie Campbell of 247Sports.

Fan forums exploded as well. Tide supporters celebrated, while fan bases in Ann Arbor, Columbus, and Knoxville lamented the near-miss. In Brooks’ hometown of Jacksonville, local reporters lauded his decision to play where high school standouts historically blossom.

Ripples Through the 2025 Class Rankings

Brooks’ flip is already reshaping national recruiting walls:

• Alabama vaults ahead of Texas and Georgia to claim the No. 1 overall class in the 2025 cycle, boasting five five-star recruits and eight four-star prospects.
• Michigan slips from No. 2 to No. 4, now scrambling to fill a defensive back need with secondary targets like four-star Dakota Hughes (TX) and cornerback Jalen Wright (CA).
• Ohio State remains strong at No. 3 but will reignite a chase for safeties and nickel backs in the transfer portal.
• Tennessee falls outside the top five for the first time in four years, though Heupel’s staff has promised an aggressive July push.

The immediate domino effect includes:

• Miami (FL) reopening a Safety vacancy and pursuing Florida commits.
• LSU and Texas intensifying late pitches to JUCO safety prospects.
• Notre Dame and Penn State watching the shifting landscape, evaluating portal candidates.

What It Means for Alabama’s 2025 Defense

With Brooks locked in, Alabama’s 2025 secondary projects as one of the nation’s best:

Brooks brings not just coverage skills but also tackling prowess—he averaged 9.2 tackles per game in his senior season—and leadership as a team captain. Under Kelly’s scheme, he’s expected to roam the deep half, align as a box safety on run-heavy sets, and serve as an on-field coach for younger DBs.

Crimson Tide defensive coordinator Sherrer noted,

“Malachi has the size and instincts you dream of. He’ll be a leader immediately, on film room calls and on the field.”

Beyond the Gridiron: Community and Legacy

Brooks has also committed to community engagement. In June, he hosted a youth football camp in Jacksonville, pledging a portion of his NIL earnings to local scholarship programs. Alabama’s outreach network—among the largest in college football—will amplify those efforts.

Alumni like Minkah Fitzpatrick and Landon Collins, both safeties who entered the NFL as first-round picks, reached out to Brooks after his announcement. Their messages underscored the “brotherhood” that Brooks cited as a deciding factor.

Conclusion: A New Chapter in College Football Recruiting

Malachi Brooks’ decision to join Alabama over Michigan, Ohio State, and Tennessee isn’t just a headline—it’s a harbinger of shifting power in the 2025 recruiting cycle. His commitment cements the Tide’s dominance in defensive back recruitment and catalyzes a flurry of activity among peer institutions.

For Brooks, the choice signals an embrace of tradition, a pathway to the NFL, and a chance to lead at one of college football’s most storied programs. As he trades his high school jersey for crimson and white, all eyes will watch how the nation’s top safety shapes Alabama’s defense and, more broadly, the SEC’s pursuit of another national title.

In the ever-evolving theater of college football recruiting, Brooks’ announcement stands as a masterstroke in Alabama’s grand campaign—and a reminder that in this sport, the next great chapter often begins at signing day.