Five-Star Defensive End, FSU Football Target Decommits From Alabama Football
Shockwaves are being felt around the country after Nick Saban retired last week. A wave of dominos has slowly fallen as players and recruits at Alabama try to decide their next move. That's led to some interesting decisions in just the seven days that have passed since Saban stepped away from the sport.
On Wednesday morning, five-star defensive end Zion Grady announced that he was decommitting from the Crimson Tide in the aftermath of the coaching change. Grady is one of the top rising seniors in the country and had been pledged to Alabama since November.
Days after fellow five-star prospect and wide receiver, Jaime Ffrench, backed off of his commitment to Alabama, Grady joins him as two of the best 2025 prospects are back on the market. Florida State is in hot pursuit of the pair as both players are priority targets for the coaching staff.
Grady was in Tallahassee three times last year. He took a junior day visit in January prior to working out for the staff during the Elite Camp in June. Grady returned to campus in October to watch Florida State's win over Syracuse from the stands in Doak Campbell Stadium.
The Alabama native is building relationships with head coach Mike Norvell, defensive ends coach John Papuchis, and senior offensive analyst Austin Tucker. He's a fan of the way that the Seminoles utilize their defensive front.
"I like the way they use their defensive ends," Grady said to NoleGameday previously. "They try to get them one on one matchups a lot to get them to the quarterback."
Grady recorded 82 tackles, 26 tackles for loss, ten sacks, 23 quarterback hurries, and an interception during his junior season at Enterprise High School. He pulled down 35 tackles for loss and 19 sacks the previous season while playing for Charles Henderson High School.
The Seminoles hold four pledges in their 2025 class; four-star quarterback Tramell Jones Jr., four-star offensive lineman Solomon Thomas, four-star defensive end Javion Hilson, and three-star linebacker Ethan Pritchard. The haul ranks No. 11 in the country.
The 6-foot-4, 220-pound defensive end is regarded as the No. 23 overall prospect, the No. 1 EDGE, and the No. 2 recruit in the state of Alabama in the 2025 class according to 247Sports.
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