The Crimson Tide’s 2018 commitment list has grown to eight with the addition of Slade Bolden, a three-star all-purpose back from Louisiana.

The West Monroe product opted for Alabama over TCU on Thursday evening.

At 5-foot-11, 192 pounds, Bolden is slated to play slot receiver for the Tide. He impressed the staff, especially first-year offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, during a camp workout last month.

“To Coach Daboll, a slot receiver is like a whole other position, it’s a different mindset,” Bolden told BamaOnLine after camp. “You’ve got to be able to find holes in the defense and settle in, run quick routes, have great hands, and not be afraid to take a lick. He sees me as some of the guys he’s worked with in New England.”

It was the weekend visit that ultimately elevated Alabama over TCU and one-time contender LSU. Bolden said his time in Tuscaloosa was the most impressed he’s been on a college campus. Sitting down one-on-one with Nick Saban certainly contributed to that feeling.

“He really told me like people will try to tell you, you can’t play here or you can’t play there, you’re too big, or you’re too small,” Bolden said. “He said don’t believe in that. He also said don’t feel the LSU pressure being from Louisiana, because this is what I want, not what everyone else wants me to do. He’s not saying LSU wouldn’t be a great choice, he was just saying don’t feel the pressure. He talked about how successful I could be there, and how every class that’s been through there has won a national championship. I’d say that’s pretty good.”

Bolden has quite the list of accomplishments in his time at West Monroe. The new Alabama commit is a three-year starter on both the football and baseball (OF) teams. He was an All-State selection in both sports his junior year. In fact, Bolden wasn’t able to participate in the Nike Opening Regionals and various other camps this past spring due to helping the baseball team reach the state championship. The Rebels played every weekend until mid-May. In the classroom, Bolden is an Honors student maintaining a 4.0 GPA. A member of the National Honor Society, the do-it-all athlete also was a part of West Monroe’s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) program his freshman and sophomore years as well.

Bolden joins Xavier Williams as the second receiver in the Tide’s class, which now ranks No. 40 in the nation per the 247Sports Team Rankings.

Defensive line coach Karl Dunbar is the area recruiter for West Monroe.

Bolden is rated the No. 14 all-purpose back and the No. 647 overall player in the country, per the industry-generated 247Sports Composite.

Alabama was trending on the Crystal Ball at the time of his commitment.

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