jedrick wills

Elite OL Jedrick Wills committed to Alabama (photo courtesy 247Sports)

The long-awaited commitment by elite offensive tackle Jedrick Wills to Alabama finally came on Tuesday.

Near the end of the summer, Wills tweeted for everyone to be on alert. But the four-star recruit from Lexington, Ky., ranked No. 41 overall, chose the Crimson Tide in a Bleacher Report video over Michigan, Kentucky, Tennessee and Notre Dame.

He had already taken an official visit to Michigan and his coach at Lafayette High, Eric Shaw, said he believes Wills' official to Alabama will be for the Iron Bowl.

"I think he just wanted to take his time," Shaw said. "He wanted to chew on it a little bit. He decided to do it today and I'm very excited for him and his family. I'm excited for my program for an athlete to go to, right now, the big dog of college football. I call them my sons and I'm excited for my sons when they get a chance to play college football."

How it happened: Alabama assistant Derrick Ansley developed a relationship with Wills when Ansley coached at Kentucky. The 6-foot-5, 310-pound Wills visited Alabama this summer and that's when momentum started trending until his Tuesday announcement.

What Alabama is getting: Wills has led Lafayette to the third round of the playoffs. He plays 80 percent of the game's total snaps, Shaw said, even on the defensive line.

"They're getting a very aggressive, hard-nosed, smart, agile big player," Shaw said. "His size is impressive but how he moves with his feet is unbelievable and is a sight to see."

Alabama is also getting the state of Kentucky's top prospect for the second time in three years. Running back Damien Harris signed with Alabama in 2015.

What it means: Alabama has five offensive linemen committed and four are listed as tackles. The tackles are Pensacola, Fla., five-star Alex Leatherwood, Madison-Bob Jones four-star Kendall Randolph, No. 2 overall junior college recruit Elliot Baker and Wills. Cullman's Hunter Brannon has committed to play center.

"I'm sure he could play any position he wants to on the O-line, but he wants to be a tackle and my impression is that's what he's being recruited as," Shaw said. "Playing guard, I haven't heard that, so I'm assuming it's going to be as a tackle."

Baker recently announced he's taking an official visit to Texas A&M this weekend. Leatherwood has also made other visits but it would be a shock if he didn't sign with Alabama.

Alabama is also in on more elite tackles in five-stars Trey Smith of Jackson, Tenn., Foster Sarell of Graham, Wash., and Isaiah Wilson of Brooklyn, N.Y.

Smith officially visited Alabama last weekend. Wilson says he's officially visiting for the Iron Bowl and Sarell is a possible Iron Bowl visitor.

Alabama won't sign all three, but it seems like there could be movement on the line.

RANKINGS

247Sports composite (combined rankings): 4-star, No. 42 nationally, No. 10 OT

247Sports individual: 4-star, No. 51 overall, No. 9 OT

Scout: 4-star, No. 62 overall, No. 10 OT

Rivals: 5-star, No. 16 national

ESPN: 4-star, No. 89 overall, No. 6 OT

Check out Wills' highlights.