kedrick james te

Tight end Kedrick James committed to Alabama (photo courtesy 247Sports)

Just as many expected, Alabama landed a commitment from a Texas tight end.

But it wasn't Major Tennison, long thought to be an Alabama lean after he decommitted from Texas last month.

It was Kedrick James, a 6-foot-6, 245-pound three-star recruit from La Vega High School in Waco, Texas.

James became Alabama's 21st commitment in the 2017 class and third of the day on Sunday.

How it happened: James decommitted from Baylor in late May following head coach Art Briles' firing. His name hadn't been mentioned much with Alabama lately, but James visited recently for the Champions Cookout and a camp. He said he's had the offer for "quite a while."

"I'm going to be perfectly honest," La Vega coach Willie Williams said. "In the spring, he decommitted from Baylor. He was down to Arkansas or Texas A&M, that's what he told me. He camped at Alabama, did well, fell in love with the place and what they stood for and he committed there."

Sunday night, he made his commitment public.

What he brings: A three-star recruit, James is ranked as the country's No. 12 tight end in the 247Sports composite. He caught 10 passes for 173 yards as a junior, but expect him to become a bigger part of the offense this year.

"We can split him out wide," Williams said. "He can run, he's about a 4.7 (40-yard dash) kid. He's 6-foot-6, big and strong with great hands. He's not your prototypical tight end who's just going to sit there and block. He needs to work on his route running, but we're going to use him a lot more ways this year."

James also appears to be a very good basketball player.

Watch his highlights below.

What it means: Alabama is getting tight on numbers, but there is still a very good chance the Crimson Tide take two tight ends. If Tennison, a three-star tight end from Bullard, Texas, doesn't commit to Alabama, look for Stanhope Elmore product Zech Byrd or Miami native Kemore Gamble, a Florida commit who camped at Alabama last month and received an offer, as some possibilities.

Rankings

247Sports composite (combination of all services): 3-star TE, No. 328 overall, No. 12 TE, No. 45 in Texas

247Sports individual: 3-star TE, No. 635 nationally, No. 25 TE, No. 82 in Texas

Rivals: 4-star TE, No. 10 TE

Scout: 4-star TE, No. 15 TE

ESPN: 4-star TE, No. 272 nationally, No. 9 TE

Rankings expectation: When James gets bumped up in the 247Sports individual, he'll be a 4-star across the board.