Alabama flips 2027 TE Michael Nnabuife from Syracuse

Alabama added a new piece to its 2027 recruiting class on Sunday, landing 3-star tight end Michael Nnabuife after he flipped his commitment from Syracuse to the Crimson Tide. The Baltimore-area prospect, who previously pledged to the Orange on May 20, made the change during this past weekend’s official visit to Alabama, according to recruiting coverage.

Nnabuife plays tight end at St. Frances Academy and is listed at 6-foot-5 and 250 pounds. Scouts who have evaluated him describe him as a physical blocker, emphasizing the way he uses his power and aggression to take away space and help secure run lanes. He also previously played at Calvert Hall before transferring to St. Frances for his junior season.

Recruiting services rank Nnabuife among the tighter-end tier for the class, and he arrives as the kind of high-upside, lower-profile prospect Alabama often targets when trying to build depth at a position that matters in both run blocking and the passing game. In Alabama’s case, the commitment also indicates that its 2027 tight end board includes multiple targets already, with Nnabuife becoming one of the newest additions alongside fellow 3-star tight end Oakley Keegan, as noted in recruiting roundups.

The flip comes as Alabama enters the 2026 season with expectations built on recent results. The program went 11-3 overall and 7-1 in SEC play in 2025, then advanced to the Rose Bowl where it lost to Indiana 38-3. Alabama’s early 2026 focus, meanwhile, is straightforward: a home opener against East Carolina on Sept. 5, televised on ABC, with kickoff listed at 11 a.m. CT (noon ET).

For Syracuse, the loss is a setback in the ACC recruiting battle, especially because Nnabuife was a target that fit their tight end group. Syracuse recruiting reporting indicated Nnabuife’s pledge originally lined up as an addition for the 2027 class, but that plan shifted when he changed commitments in Tuscaloosa.

What to watch next is whether Alabama continues to press for more tight end options in the 2027 cycle after adding Nnabuife, and how quickly Syracuse pursues replacements at the position following the flip. For Alabama fans, the short-term timeline is simple: the on-field story begins Sept. 5 against East Carolina, while the recruiting impact will show more clearly as the 2027 class progresses through camps and further official visits.