Alabama added to its top-ranked class of football commitments for the 2019 signing cycle early Wednesday morning, receiving a nonbinding pledge from four-star defensive end Byron Young.
The 6-foot-4, 280-pounder from West Jones High School in Laurel, Mississippi, picked the Crimson Tide over scholarship offers from Georgia, Ole Miss and Mississippi State. Young is Alabama's 18th commitment, its 16th four-star commitment and its 12th from a top-150 national prospect.
"That's how you start off this incredible holiday!" Alabama first-year linebackers coach Pete Golding posted on Twitter moments after Young committed via the same social media outlet. "Some fireworks from the trenches!"
Young is rated by 247Sports.com as the nation's No. 9 strongside defensive end and the No. 121 prospect overall.
Fromm injures hand
Georgia sophomore quarterback Jake Fromm suffered a fracture on his left (non-throwing) hand this week as the result of a minor boating incident on Lake Burton. Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart described the injury as "insignificant," adding that the 2017 Southeastern Conference freshman of the year will not miss any summer workouts as a result.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.