Quitman (Miss.) four-star running back Akylin Dear is on his official visit to Alabama this weekend as the Tide work hard to attempt to flip Dear away from the in-state Ole Miss Rebels.
Dear has been committed to Ole Miss since March 30 but will take an official visit to Texas A&M next week in addition to this weekend’s trip to Tuscaloosa.
Alabama recruiting insider Tim Watts had this to say about Dear’s Alabama recruitment earlier this week on The Inside Scoop football recruiting show.
“Now A.K. Dear, that’s going to be a tough one,” Watts said. “A Mississippi running back under five-star consideration, that’s probably a tougher one to read. Kind of surprised when he committed, I thought. I don’t think many schools recruiting him expected an early commitment. But yeah, he’ll be one that’s highly contested and easily could go until the night before signing day. So that’s going to be hard.
“Now Alabama has got to do something at that running back position, too. They had two good classes in a row. . . There’s a lot of young talent on campus, but they definitely want to add a guy this year.”
Akylin Dear Recruit Profile
Dear is the nation’s No. 36 overall prospect, No. 2 running back and No. 2 recruit from Mississippi in the 2025 cycle according to the On3 Industry Ranking — a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.
He ranks No. 30 overall in the 2025 On300.
On3’s Scouting and Rankings team writes this about Dear as a prospect.
“True three-down back that has all of the physical, athletic and technical ability to walk in and carry the load for an offense the day he steps on campus. He has the frame to add the necessary mass in order to become a bell-cow back. Stands in at 6’0, 200 pounds with an advanced physical build. Strong, between the tackles runner who is light on his feet with excellent wiggle.
“Has the top-end speed to hit the homerun ball. Great forward body lean that runs behind his pads making him a load to bring down for defenders. Comfortable pass catcher and ball tracker downfield. Put together strong workouts in the spring camp setting prior to his senior season. One of the most complete players in the entire 2025 recruiting cycle.”
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