Reaching into New Jersey for an elite-level prospect is never easy in the South, but if anyone can make it look routine, it's the University of Alabama and the Crimson Tide's expertise in reloading a focal position group that's been paramount during the program's decade-long dominance.

One of Alabama's newest 2019 commits, four-star defensive tackle Antonio Alfano, detailed the thought process in the final moments before last week's much-anticipated decision Tuesday on Tide 102.9 The Game with Ryan Fowler. First-year Alabama assistant Josh Gattis was instrumental in landing his commitment, Alfano says.

"I knew Coach Gattis when he was back at Penn State before he moved to Alabama and he was a guy I really looked up to,” Alfano said. "Him moving down and becoming a full-time coach really helped him. When we went down there and he was down there, I really felt the same love like when he was at Penn State. This is a person who can watch my back down here, because I am going to be far from home.

"(It’s) a 15-hour car ride from New Jersey and a 2.5-hour plane ride. It’s not close. So I mean, to have someone who knows the area down there is really going to be good.”

Alfano, who pushed his decision back from December to May, points to Gattis switching staffs as the primary reason he'll play in Tuscaloosa next season.

“They weren’t going to be in my top schools when I was committing and they were definitely not the school I was going to commit to (in December),” Alfano said. “Seeing Josh Gattis go to Alabama really did help them a lot and pushed them over the top. That second visit down there really (helped).”

247Sports Director of Recruiting Steve Wiltfong believes Alfano, the top-ranked player in New Jersey according to the 247Sports Composite, will be an integral part of Alabama's reload along the defensive front.

"On film, you see a dominant combination of power and quickness at the point of attack, with Alfano even making offensive linemen miss en route to the backfield," Wiltfong writes. "With the Crimson Tide not signing a defensive end in 2018, this is a big pickup for the defending National Champs."

Alfano picked Alabama over Georgia and Penn State after spending two full days in Tuscaloosa on his final visit. He watched a practice and took in a game scrimmag and says the players embraced him as if they were his own teammates.

“Just playing PS4 in the dorm room, listening to music and all that,” Alfano said on Tide 102.9. “They showed a brotherhood and they really cared about each other. That really pushed Alabama over the edge (for me)."

Alfano says he'll be living out a childhood dream playing college football, especially showcasing his talents for a legend like Nick Saban.

“When I first got offered by them when I went down there, me and my dad looked at each like, 'Oh my god, did that just happen?’ sort of thing,” Alfano said. "It was like a dream. It’s kind of crazy how the dream is coming true."