Alabama football loses 2026 DL commitment, flips to Tennessee

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Alabama football has lost a piece of its interior defensive line in tis 2026 recruiting class.

Jerimy “JJ” Finch, a four star defensive lineman out of Indianapolis, Indiana, ended his commitment to the Crimson Tide and flipped to Tennessee Wednesday, Dec. 3. Finch had been committed to Alabama since June 22.

Finch is the No. 572 player and the No. 64 defensive lineman in the 2026 recruiting class per 247Sports’ composite rankings.

Finch, if he signed, would have been the second Indiana player to sign with Alabama in the modern recruiting era.

With Finch out of the class, Alabama has five defensive line commits in the 2026 class: Georgia four star Jamarion Matthews, Mississippi four star Nolan Wilson, Alabama four star Kamhariyan Johnson, Georgia three star Corey Howard and Alabama three star Malique Franklin, who committed to the Crimson Tide Tuesday, Dec. 2.

Alabama football 2026 recruiting class

  • Xavier Griffin: 5-star linebacker, Gainesville, Georgia
  • Jorden Edmonds: 5-star cornerback, Marietta, Georgia 
  • Ezavier Crowell: 5-star running back, Jackson, Alabama 
  • Jireh Edwards: 5-star safety, Upper Marlboro, Maryland 
  • Zyan Gibson: 4-star cornerback, Gadsden, Alabama
  • Cederian Morgan: 4-star wide receiver, Alexander City, Alabama 
  • Jett Thomalla: 4-star quarterback, Omaha, Nebraska
  • Mack Sutter: 4-star tight end, Dunlap, Illinois
  • Jamarion Matthews: 4-star defensive lineman, Gainesville, Georgia 
  • Nolan Wilson: 4-star defensive lineman, Picayune, Mississippi 
  • Chris Booker: 4-star offensive lineman, Atlanta, Georgia
  • Jared Doughty: 4-star offensive lineman, Atlanta, Georgia 
  • Corey Howard: 3-star defensive lineman, Valdosta, Georgia
  • Rihyael Kelley: 3-star safety, Cincinnati, Ohio
  • Kamhariyan Johnson: 4-star defensive lineman, Muscle Shoals, Alabama 
  • Bear Fretwell: 3-star offensive lineman, Brooklet, Georgia
  • Tayden Kaawa: 3-star quarterback, Honolulu, Hawaii
  • Zay Hall: 3-star linebacker, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
  • Tyrell Miller: offensive lineman, College of San Mateo, Union City, California
  • Malique Franklin: 3-star defensive lineman, Daphne, Alabama

Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at cgay@gannett.com or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter. 

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: JJ Finch, 2026 DL, ends Alabama football commitment

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