Keilan Robinson committed to Alabama last June, and on Wednesday the 4-star running back from Washington D.C. signed with the Crimson Tide.

The end result didn’t come without some late drama, however. The St. John’s College product opted not to sign early, launching a number of theories as to where his commitment to the Tide stood in the wake of his primary recruiter Mike Locksley leaving for Maryland.

Robinson reaffirmed his commitment to the Tide in December, but didn’t add much beyond that as we entered the month of January.

The East Coast standout took his only reported visit elsewhere this past weekend to USC, but a late push from the Trojans came up short after new Tide running backs coach Charles Huff visited with the 4-star back on a couple of occasions last month and secured Alabama’s standing in the recruitment.

Robinson, of course, was close with Locksley who originally sold him on how he intended to use his skillset in Tuscaloosa. Nick Saban reiterated that message last summer before landing the 5-foot-9, 184-pounder’s pledge.

“He was preaching the same things, that I could be that dynamic playmaker out of the backfield, that home-run hitter that can score any time he touches the ball,” Robinson said of Saban’s message. “All that stuff just made me really want to be there. I feel like I can develop into the best player and person at the University of Alabama.”

Along with Robinson, Alabama welcomed the No. 1 running back in the nation Trey Sanders into he fold during the Early Signing Period. Both Sanders and Robinson will report to Tuscaloosa this summer and add significant depth to a running back roster that features Najee Harris, Brian Robinson and Jerome Ford heading into the fall.

Robinson is rated the No. 15 running back and the No. 244 overall player in America, according to the industry-generated 247Sports Composite Rankings.

The Tide clenched the No. 1 recruiting class, per the industry-generated 247Sports Composite Team Recruiting Rankings, on Wednesday afternoon.