Alabama football has another defensive line commit in the 2026 recruiting class.
Jerimy “JJ” Finch, an Indianapolis three-star defensive lineman, committed to Alabama June 22. He chose the Crimson Tide over programs such as Michigan, Tennessee, Florida and Purdue.
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Finch, Alabama’s eighth commitment in the 2026 recruiting class, is the No. 445 player in the country and the No. 50 defensive lineman in the class per 247Sports’ composite rankings.
Finch is the third defensive lineman to join Alabama’s 2026 class along with Georgia four-star Jamarion Matthews and Alabama four-star Kamhariyan Johnson.
If he signs with the Crimson Tide, Finch would be Alabama’s first signee from Indiana since guard Emil Elkiyor in 2018, and the second overall in the modern recruiting era.
What JJ Finch commitment means for Alabama football
Oct 5, 2024; Columbus, OH, USA; Class of 2025 Indianapolis defensive lineman Jerimy “J.J.” Finch leaves the field after Ohio State’s 35-7 win over the Iowa Hawkeyes after the NCAA football game at Ohio Stadium.
While both Johnson and Matthews are projected to join Alabama’s bandit defensive end position, Finch looks like a perfect fit for the interior of the Crimson Tide defensive line.
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Standing at 6-foot-3, 260 pounds, Finch recorded 92 tackles, 24 tackles-for-loss and seven sacks, per 247Sports.
Alabama has made it a point to add to its bandit position, especially after landing two interior defensive linemen in the 2025 recruiting class in Steve Bolo Mboumoua and London Simmons. Finch gives Alabama a continued development path inside, especially with losing one starter heading into 2026, and possibly two.
Alabama football 2026 recruiting class
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Jorden Edmonds: Five-star cornerback, Marietta, Georgia
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Zyan Gibson: Four-star cornerback, Gadsden, Alabama
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Jamarion Matthews: Four-star defensive end, Gainesville, Georgia
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Chris Booker: Four-star offensive lineman, Atlanta, Georgia
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Kamhariyan Johnson: Four-star defensive end, Muscle Shoals, Alabama
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Sam Utu: Four-star offensive lineman, Orange, California
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Jett Thomalla: Four-star quarterback, Omaha, Nebraska
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JJ Finch: Three-star defensive lineman, Indianapolis, Indiana
Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at [email protected] or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: 2026 DL Jerimy Finch commits to Alabama football. What it means
