"He's not going to end up in this class": Recruiting analyst makes bold claim on 5-star Alabama OT commit Ty Haywood's recruitment 

Five-star offensive tackle Ty Haywood has been committed to Alabama since July. However, his commitment status has been uncertain for the last few days.

BamaOnline's Tim Watts gave his take on Haywood's commitment status on Tuesday.

"Yeah, I would think he's not going to end up in this class when all is said and done," Watts said. "I mean, I think a lot of this went in early. Things changed late. He's obviously going to have a lot of suitors when he goes through that late period."

Haywood is one of four five-star recruits in Alabama’s 2025 class, which is ranked No. 2 nationally. The group already suffered a setback last month with the de-commitment of five-star wide receiver Caleb Cunningham. If Haywood flips, it would be another significant blow.

Watts suggested that Kalen DeBoer and his coaching staff may shift focus if Haywood de-commits.

"I think Bama's just going to probably focus elsewhere," Watts said. "Maybe in the portal. I think the focus there is just keeping the four offensive linemen they've got. They understand Heywood's decisions to look around and take the opportunities with other schools."

Ty Haywood is ranked by ESPN as the No. 18 prospect in the nation, the No. 5 offensive tackle in the 2025 class, and the No. 6 recruit in Texas.

Recruiting insider talks impact of NIL on Ty Haywood's commitment

Ty Haywood announced that he would not be signing with Alabama during the early signing period on Dec. 4. On3's EJ Holland provided his viewpoint on this decision, saying:

"If you're going to delay until the late period, you're basically just admitting you're not completely sold on Alabama and you're strongly considering what Michigan has to offer."

Michigan's NIL deal successfully worked to flip five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood from LSU, offering a reported NIL package between $10-13 million. According to Holland, similar forces could be at play for Haywood as well.

"I'm told some of those people are also involved in the potential NIL deal for Ty Haywood. And that would be massive. You know, that's a different type of money. Michigan is putting together really good packages, and you've seen them land some high-end guys."

Michigan’s success in flipping recruits like Shamari Earls from Georgia and Jordan Young from Clemson proves their growing influence. If Haywood’s offer approaches the figures reported for Underwood, it could explain his hesitation to sign with Alabama.

Haywood’s connection to Alabama runs deep, as he grew up a fan of the Crimson Tide. However, he acknowledged in an interview with On3 this week that Michigan has always piqued his interest. Now, with NIL dynamics in play, the Wolverines have momentum in his recruitment. The On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine currently gives Michigan a 12.8% chance of flipping Haywood.