Jackson-Olin linebacker Quandarrius Robinson became part of Alabama’s 2020 recruiting class last week, making his pledge during a visit to the Tuscaloosa campus.

But why did Robinson, rated a 4-star outside linebacker and the state’s No. 1 prospect according to 247Sports, pick Alabama and why decide now?

"Give me a reason not to pick Bama," Robinson said. "As I've heard before, history is a great predictor of the future, and I want to be a part of that future. I feel like I can trust Coach (Sal) Sunseri, and I believe if I follow in his footsteps, he'll lead me to the place I need to be."

Sunseri rejoined Alabama’s staff in January as the team’s outside linebackers coach, and he clearly made a quick impression on Robinson, who committed to Auburn last July before re-opening his recruitment in January.

Sunseri arrived spent last season as Florida’s defensive line coach, spent three years as an assistant coach in the NFL and previously served as Nick Saban’s staff at Alabama from 2009-11.

Robinson said Sunseri and cornerbacks coach Karl Scott made big impressions on him during his recruitment.

The 6-foot-4 1/2, 220-pound Robinson said he plans to take no other visits and will sign in December, although he won't enroll until summer 2020.

Robinson's recruitment put him in the middle of the white-hot Iron Bowl rivalry, and he understood the emotions his commitment to Alabama would stir for fans on both sides.

"That's been the main thing -- stay off Twitter," he said. "Dealing with the fans, I mean, some of them have been immature about it and some have been mature. Some of them wish the best for me and some of them wish the worst. That's just how it is with college football.

"I've just been trying to say level-headed," he added, "and not worry about the things they say, good or bad. The day I committed, I turned my phone off. I knew I was going to break the Internet or at least get close to it."

Robinson said he also has a new role in the recruiting process.

"I'm fixing to start recruiting," he said. "I've got to help the coaches out."

Robinson played safety as a 177-pound sophomore at Jackson-Olin and has since grown into a 220-pound outside linebacker. He said the skills he developed as a defensive back help him as a linebacker.

Jackson-Olin coach Tim Vakakes agreed.

"We lift pretty hard," Vakakes said. "You've got a frame like his and a work ethic like his and a strength program like ours, you put all that together and the kid is going to develop. He's put on about 10 pounds per year. He played last year around 200 and will likely up to 225 this year when the season begins

"He's very explosive. He's a long. I know Bama likes him as a pass rusher," Vakakes continued, "because I think that's where he's going to make his money, but what attracted him to Alabama and coach Sunseri is their ability to develop him as more than just a pass rusher. He can drop in coverage. He can cover backs. He played free safety for us as a sophomore, so he's played in space before.

“As an elite pass rusher, I think that’s where his bread is going to be buttered. I do because he is so long, he’s so explosive, he’s relentless, he’s strong.”

Alabama now has 20 commitments for the Class of 2020, including nine in-state prospects.