Alabama's 5-Star Commit's Mom Clears Air on Nick Saban's Role in Son's Recruitment Process
Five-star linebacker Xavier Griffin committed to the Alabama Crimson Tide on June 29.
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Griffin, a junior at Gainesville High School in Gainesville, Georgia, stands at six feet three inches and weighs 200 pounds. According to his 247Sports player profile, he recorded 43 tackles and six sacks in eight appearances as a member of the 2026 recruiting class.
As a sophomore, he was selected to the Georgia Region 8-6A first team after recording 54 tackles and 15 sacks. Griffin also showcased his talent in the Polynesian Bowl on January 16 in Hawaii and the Navy All-American Bowl on January 11 in Texas.
Griffin also had the chance to meet former Alabama head coach Nick Saban during his recruiting process, which some believe influenced his decision to choose the Crimson Tide. However, Griffin's mother, Jay Clay, shut down those claims in an X post on Sunday.
'Let me make this clear for @zay_social recruitment when it comes to Alabama,' she wrote. 'Makes me mad to hear @KalenDeBoer can't recruit because our coach and his staff did a great job! I met Saban once, but he is not the one who offered or talked to us at any point.'
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Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer Gary Cosby Jr.-Imagn Images
Clay's remarks about her son's recruitment process come as some have criticized Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer for not being a great recruiter compared to his predecessor, Saban. But Clay's comments prove otherwise, as she credited him and the school's outside linebacker coach, Christian Robinson, with helping develop a strong connection with her son.
'@crob45 was and is the 🐐 that got my son to Bama!' she continued. 'Love our staff and can't wait! Roll Tide.'
Alabama's 2026 recruiting class that DeBoer has helped put together also includes five-star wide receiver Cederian Morgan, four-star athlete Zyan Gibson and four-star running back Ezavier Crowell. The class is currently ranked No. 5 in the country, according to 247Sports where you can also view the full recruiting class.
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Related: Kalen DeBoer, Alabama Land 5-Star Linebacker Over Three College Powerhouses
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
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