5-star RB Justice Haynes cancels Ohio State visit, locked in with Alabama

When Buford (Ga.) five-star running back Justice Haynes opted for Alabama over the in-state Georgia Bulldogs in July, it came as a major surprise given his connections to the program in Athens.

Georgia was where his father went to school before playing in the NFL, and Haynes seemed destined to play there. He felt otherwise, choosing the Crimson Tide and pursuing his own path.

Since then, both the Bulldogs and Ohio State haven’t given up on him. But as crunch time came around with the Early Signing Period next week, he already knew where he wanted to be. After cancelling an in-home visit with the Bulldogs earlier this week, Haynes tells On3 that he has canceled the final in-home with the Buckeyes and is fully locked in with Alabama.

“I’ve just prayed on it, and I feel like that’s leading me in the right direction. I pray on it every time I go to a new school or talk to them, and ‘Bama just remains on top for me,” he said. “I feel like that I was the feeling I first got from Alabama, and that’s what I’m still getting. That’s the school for me and think I can do great things there.

… There was times when those schools — they were constantly coming at me — and I was thinking about it. But Alabama always remained at the top, and that’s why I’m locked in with ‘Bama and am committed to ‘Bama. As much as they tried, and I listened to what they had to say, but ‘Bama just stayed on top. And God just kept giving me signs to go there.”

Justice Haynes is now looking ahead to the next steps

Haynes hosted his future head coach, Nick Saban, for an in-home visit earlier this week. He says that was just an added bonus, but he was already set with the Tide.

“That was a great visit with them, but I was locked in ‘Bama before that. It just put the cherry on top. Talking to Coach Saban and spending quality time with him was amazing.”

He expects to sign on the dotted line on Wednesday, the first day of the signing period. Then, he’ll head to Louisiana to join Alabama for Sugar Bowl practices if his transcripts are uploaded in time. As soon as Thursday, he can begin his career with the Crimson Tide. As for what he’s excited about and looking forward to most in Tuscaloosa, he said:

“I can’t wait to get developed on and off the field. I’ll be coached by the GOAT; I’m going into a great team environment, and we’re going to do something special there.”