Just two weeks after decommitting from USC, five-star LB Xavier Griffin is already gearing up for his next move. The Gainesville (Ga.) standout doesn’t plan to stay off the board for long — he’s eyeing a new commitment before his senior season kicks off. With official visits lined up, the next few weeks will be critical in shaping his final decision. “I work hard every day on and off the field, so I want to enjoy this process while I can and make sure I explore all options,” said Griffin. Adding, “We only get one shot, and it wasn’t fair to USC to continue to do that while being committed to them.” A mature move from a rising star — and it’d be a recruitment worth watching. And amid all the programs vying for the linebacker, one might have gained an upper hand…

See, Xavier Griffin isn’t just a top recruit — he’s one of the elite. Ranked No. 28 nationally and the No. 2 linebacker in the 2026 class by On3, Griffin also holds the No. 3 spot in talent-rich Georgia. At 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds, he’s a force on the field — and now, his recruitment is heating up. Following that, Griffin told On3’s Hayes Fawcett that he’ll make his next commitment official on June 29. He’s also locked in his top four for official visits — and those trips will shape where he lands next. Honestly, the countdown is on.

On Wednesday, On3 Recruits reported Xavier Griffin’s final four: Ohio State, Florida State, Texas, and Alabama. The race is officially on. Griffin kicks off his official visit tour at OSU this weekend, then it’s off to Bama on June 6, Texas on June 13, and FSU on June 15. Each stop is a chance to seal the deal before his June 29 commitment. Griffin may have walked away from Lincoln Riley and USC, but these four powerhouses aren’t making the same mistake. They’re rolling out the red carpet — and they’re all-in on leaving a lasting impression. Nobody wants to be the next Lincoln Riley miss.

While the top schools are going all-in for Xavier Griffin, some major intel just dropped. According to On3’s Steve Wiltfong, Alabama may be in the driver’s seat. “Heading into the summer official visits, I continue to like where the Crimson Tide stand,” reported Wiltfong. With that confidence, he logged an expert pick on the On3 RPM—backing Bama to land the five-star linebacker. Looks like the Tide’s momentum is real.

Okay, LBs coach Christian Robinson has been leading the charge for the Tide. Griffin’s connection to Tuscaloosa runs deep — it’s a school he’s always admired, and he’s got family there too. According to Wiltfong, Alabama is in prime position to land Griffin, but that’s just the start. Wiltfong also has Alabama crystal-balled for 5-star wideouts Ezavier Crowell and Cederian Morgan, plus elite TE Mack Sutter. He hasn’t pulled the trigger yet, but five-star edge Anthony “Tank” Jones is another name Bama’s in strong shape for.

Now, with 5 commits already and the No. 8 class per On3, Alabama could be eyeing a top-three finish for the 2nd year in a row — with Griffin, Crowell, and Morgan leading the way, per Wiltfong. But why did Griffin choose these four schools? What could be his thought process behind this recruitment?

Xavier Griffin shares his views on commitment

Xavier Griffin’s commitment has been the talk of the recruiting world for months. But the tough choice only came down in the last 2 weeks. Griffin opened up to On3 about why he decided to decommit. “My commitment has been a question for a few months now, but the hard decision has came within the last two weeks,” stated Griffin. And he made it clear this wasn’t a rash move. “I wanted to still be able to enjoy my process and go on my official visits, but respectful of USC at the same time, so this happened after a lot of talking with my mom and praying.” A decision weighed with care — and faith.

Before Griffin reopened his recruitment, OSU wasn’t exactly on everyone’s radar for the 205-pound linebacker. But behind the scenes, things have been heating up. LBs coach James Laurinaitis has been quietly working overtime to make OSU a serious contender. “I think this once was a little surprising to see Ohio State mentioned for the national audience, but James Laurinaitis has been doing a lot of work behind the scenes to try and get Ohio State into this one,” said Alex Gleitman on The Inside Scoop. So, Laurinaitis’ hustle might just change the game.

Not only this, Alabama is buzzing loudest in Xavier Griffin’s recruitment, especially now that his process is wide open again. The Crimson Tide looks like the team to beat. But Griffin won’t just be focused on Tuscaloosa. This weekend, he gets a deep dive into Columbus and the B1G powerhouse, OSU. In every five-star chase, you can’t count the Buckeyes out — and they’re ready to make their move.

“I still think Ohio State does have work to go,” said Gleitman. Adding, “Right now I’d have to say Alabama is probably the team to beat coming into official visits, I know Texas is in there as well, Georgia, the in-state school obviously isn’t going to go away without a fight. I would say Ohio State probably running third, maybe second in best-case scenario coming into the official visit.” So, the race is tight, and every visit counts.