Darrell “Duke” Johnson is not any high school recruit. The 6-3 210-pound linebacker from Eastman, Georgia, has swiftly risen as one of the elite prospects in the 2025 recruiting class. More interestingly, his commitment to the Crimson Tide has the Alabama fanbase buzzing about it, bursting with excitement. With that, let’s look at his journey closely.

Currently ranked as the No. 5 linebacker and a top 50 overall recruit in the national, Johnson is already a star even before playing a single game in college football. And yet he’s just getting it started. Being the standout player for Dodge County High School, Johnson made waves in his senior year. He led his team to a perfect 6-0 record through week 6. If you’re unaware, he carried most of his team’s success on his shoulders. For example, in a thrilling week 3 victory over ACE, where Dodge County rocked with a 33-28 close record, Johnson delivered one of his best performances till now.

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He showcased his abilities with 20 tackles, one forced fumble, and not less than four touchdowns. Like seriously! That’s just amazing for a young kid like him. While on the offensive side, Johnson helped his team by completing 463 rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns, on top of 32 receiving yards. These kinds of abilities to contribute to his team with a versatile approach make him stand apart from the crowd. So how lucky is Alabama going to get this time?

Johnson, who’s famous for his excellence at the quarterback position, running back, and linebacker in his high school career, often shares his love for this sport. “I love it when the ball is in my hands because it’s just me. I can do whatever I want to,” says the versatile young guy who loves what he does on the field. Let’s learn how his journey with Alabama has been so far.

A commitment that stands strong: Darrell Johnson

Well, he made it pretty clear for a few months now. Back on March 20, 2024, he announced his commitment to the Crimson Tide. However, when he visited Alabama’s thrilling 41-34 victory over Georgia, his commitment got more solidified. Johnson witnessed that victory at Bryant-Denny Stadium, which ultimately gave him the boost to shut down his recruitment process.

Although the linebacker has visited Auburn and entertained the programs as well for some time, his final destination has always been Alabama Crimson Tide. Being one of the highest-rated recruits in Alabama’s 2025 class, he’ll join Alabama’s elite group of players such as five-star Keelon Russell and TY Haywood.

With that, Alabama’s recruiting class is ranked No. 3 in the nation and No. 2 in the SEC, and with Johnson’s company, their 2025 class has raised so many eyebrows in the college football world. With Alabama’s defense and a coaching staff’s record for developing NFL talent, he’s destined to make a huge impact.