Elite 2025 EDGE Javion Hilson commits to Alabama

Alabama picked up a late-night commitment on Friday, as Cocoa (Fla.) four-star EDGE Javion Hilson pledged to the Crimson Tide. He also held offers from the likes of Georgia, LSU, Ohio State and Florida State.

Hilson is the No. 34 overall prospect and No. 3 EDGE in the 2025 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He’s also the No. 4 player in Florida.

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“That was the school showing the most love,” Hilson told BOL upon his commitment. “Nick Saban, we spoke this week. He said, ‘A guy like you coming off the EDGE would fit in our scheme.’ After I heard that he wanted and needed me there, I just went with it and committed.”

Hilson camped in Tuscaloosa back in June, earned an offer in October and wasted no time pledging to Nick Saban and the Tide. He’s now the ninth member of Bama’s 2025 recruiting class, which ranks No. 1 in the nation, according to the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings.

He has an On3 NIL Valuation of $92K. The On3 NIL Valuation is the industry’s leading index that sets high school and college athletes’ projected annual value (PAV). The NIL valuation does not act as a tracker of the value of NIL deals an athlete has completed to date. It rather signifies an athlete’s value at a certain moment in time.

Crimson Tide building elite 2025 recruiting class

With the addition of Hilson, Alabama already has five top-100 prospects in its 2025 class. Of the nine pledges, only one checks in outside of the top 200, as of Dec. 9.

Hilson is now the second elite EDGE in the class, as he joins Troy (Ala.) Charles Henderson four-star Zion Grady, the No. 40 overall recruit in the cycle. Grady committed to the Crimson Tide on Nov. 12.

“The biggest thing about Alabama is development,” Grady told On3. “The No. 1 reason why I picked Alabama is how they develop guys at my position. And they have shown me how they can develop me on and off the field. Coach Saban talked to me about the plan they have for their players, and I believe in that.”

Headlining Alabama’s class are Saraland (Ala.) Five-Star Plus+ wide receiver Ryan Williams and Jacksonville (Fla.) Mandarin five-star WR Jaime Ffrench, the No. 4 and No. 14 overall recruits in the cycle, respectively.