No. 1 overall 5-star cornerback John Meredith III, the consensus prospect in the Class of 2027, has flipped his commitment from the Texas Longhorns to the Alabama Crimson Tide.
The 6-foot-2, 175-pound standout from North Crowley High School in Fort Worth, Texas, announced the switch late Tuesday evening via his social media channels, simply posting a crimson elephant emoji alongside the caption: “Roll Tide forever.
Home is where the heart is.” Sources close to the recruitment confirmed to multiple outlets that Meredith made the decision after an intense final push from Alabama’s coaching staff, led by head coach Kalen DeBoer and defensive backs coach Maurice Linguist.
Meredith, widely regarded as the premier defensive back in the 2027 cycle—and often hailed as the top overall talent nationwide—had been committed to Texas since late last year. The Longhorns, under Steve Sarkisian, had positioned themselves as the early frontrunner, leveraging proximity to his home state, strong in-state recruiting momentum, and a defensive scheme that promised early playing time. Texas had hosted Meredith multiple times, including high-profile official visits, and many analysts viewed the commitment as a lock for the burnt orange.
However, Alabama surged in recent weeks. Meredith took an unofficial visit to Tuscaloosa over the weekend for a high-energy atmosphere during Alabama’s game against a ranked opponent, where he reportedly spent significant time with the defensive staff.
Insiders noted that the Crimson Tide emphasized their recent track record of developing elite cornerbacks into NFL stars, pointing to a pipeline that has produced first-round talents in recent cycles. Alabama’s pitch highlighted Meredith’s fit as a long, physical, shutdown corner who could anchor the secondary for years.
“This is a massive masterstroke for Alabama,” said one national recruiting analyst. “Landing the No. 1 player in the country, especially flipping him from a direct SEC rival like Texas, reshapes the entire 2027 class landscape. Meredith isn’t just a player—he’s a program-changer with elite length, top-end speed, ball skills, and the kind of instincts that translate immediately.”
Meredith transferred from Euless Trinity to North Crowley ahead of his senior season to continue building his legacy in a competitive Texas high school program. Ranked as the No. 1 cornerback across major services like 247Sports, On3, ESPN, and Rivals, he holds offers from virtually every blue-blood program, including Ohio State, Georgia, LSU, Oregon, and USC. His recruitment had narrowed to a top group featuring Alabama, Texas A&M, and Texas in recent months, with the Aggies also making a strong late run.
The switch is a major blow to Texas’s ambitious attempt to challenge Alabama’s SEC dominance and dominate in-state players. On social media, Alabama supporters rejoiced at what many are referring to as the largest recruiting success of the early 2027 cycle, while Longhorn supporters expressed their disappointment.
Meredith is expected to sign during the early period next year, though his decision could influence other top prospects in Texas and beyond. As the highest-rated recruit to pledge to Alabama under the DeBoer era so far, his commitment instantly vaults the Crimson Tide’s 2027 class into elite status.
The college football world now turns its attention to how this flip will ripple through the remaining months of recruiting. For now, Alabama has pulled off the masterstroke—securing the nation’s top talent and sending a clear message of intent.
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