4-star OL Miles McVay teams up with the Alabama Crimson Tide
The rich continue to get richer. For the third time this month, Alabama has landed a commitment from a coveted 2023 prospect, their most recent addition being four-star offensive lineman Miles McVay.
McVay, who hails from East Saint Louis (IL.), picked the Tide over six other finalists on Thursday evening. In his final group were Florida, Jackson State, Oregon, Michigan State, Missouri, and Texas A&M.
Prior to announcing his commitment, McVay spoke with BamaInsider’s Andrew Bone about how he came to this decision.
“It feels amazing,” McVay said of committing to Alabama. “I’m glad I made this decision. I’m glad for it to be over with and I’m just ready to focus on my senior season.”
McVay took several trips to Tuscaloosa this year and last, the most important of which being his visit in June. That was the first time he ventured out to Alabama’s campus with his mother who, in McVay’s words, gave the “stamp of approval” for him to choose the program.
When reflecting on why he picked the Crimson Tide, McVay pointed to the culture and player unity in T-Town.
“I fell in love with the culture probably on my second trip there,” said McVay, who will officially visit Alabama for the weekend of the Texas A&M game (Oct. 8). “I got a chance to actually watch practice and see how everything works out. It kind of reminded me of being back home. I’m a big competitor, so playing against the best in practice is only going to make me better.
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“I would say it’s the camaraderie of the players,” McVay added when asked what else attracted him to Alabama. “People always talk about how it’s just football down there but, most of the time, the players get along. They’re all working to get to the NFL. When you have a bunch of guys on the same page, that just builds a bond. As a competitor, that’s something I’d really like to be a part of.”
Miles McVay talks relationship with Eric Wolford, Alabama’s OL development
One thing that McVay took away from his visits to Alabama is the lighthearted nature of head man Nick Saban. Comparing him to his high school head coach, Darren Sunkett, McVay appreciates Saban’s emphasis on doing the little things right in practice and film preparation.
McVay, who was recruited primarily by Freddie Roach, also spoke about his future offensive line coach, Eric Wolford.
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“I would say my relationship with Coach Wolf is real tight,” McVay said. “I really respect him as a coach, as a dad, as a person. He’s one of those guys I would say you can follow behind and really learn a lot from. That’s just my guy. That’s all I’ve got to say.”
Although Wolford marks Alabama’s third offensive line coach in three years, those changes on the staff have not impacted their production of o-linemen into the NFL. Three former first-round picks out of the school, in particular, were highlighted by McVay.
“I’ve watched Evan [Neal]. Watched Alex Leatherwood. I’ve watched Jedrick [Willis],” McVay said. “I would say Jedrick is probably one of my favorites. He’s a dog. You see what they’re producing! A bunch of guys my height, my size, and who can move. They have experience with my type of body frame.”
Per the 2023 On3 Consensus, Miles McVay is the No. 195 overall prospect in his class. He checks in as the second-ranked rising senior in Illinois, as well as the No. 13 interior offensive lineman.
Besides being a standout performer on the field, McVay has already begun his work as a star recruiter for Alabama.
“All I’ve got to say is we’re not done yet,” McVay said. “I already started doing [some recruiting] a while ago. I don’t like to take credit. They made the decisions on their own. Just some notable recent ones that I had a little influence on.”
