Stephon Wynn Jr. chose Alabama over Georgia and South Carolina on Saturday.
The nation’s No. 5 strongside defensive end prospect per the 247Sports composite was at one time trending to UGA, but a late push and a strong committable offer from Alabama was the deciding factor.
The IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) product will graduate in December and enroll early. At this time, he said he does not plan on taking any other additional visits.
Why did he choose the Tide?
“The opportunity to play early as a freshman,” Wynn said. “You know they are losing a lot of linemen to the NFL draft and a lot of seniors. [They] told me that I come in and play as hard as I can play and work hard in January when I enroll early then I will have a chance to play as a freshman.”
Who finished second?
“Georgia was No. 2,” he said. “It was real close between Georgia and Alabama. If I didn’t go visit Alabama I would be committed to Georgia right now.”
He felt that visit pushed the Tide past the Bulldogs.
“I love Georgia to death. I love Coach [Tray] Scott and Coach [Kirby] Smart and their whole staff. This is nothing against them. They were recruiting me the best that I thought they could but at the end of the day I just thought that Alabama was the best place for me.”
The deciding factors for Stephon Wynn
“I mean Alabama is one of the best places in the country,” Wynn said. “It seems different down there. As soon as we got to Tuscaloosa and we pulled in on campus it was a different feel than anywhere in the country.”
He said Alabama defensive line coach Karl Dunbar played a key role. Dunbar has 11 years of experience coaching in the NFL.
Wynn said he learned that he would choose the Tide as soon as he left to return home after that trip. He talked about that with his parents.
“I want to have a chance to play in the NFL and I want to be successful,” Wynn said. “I want to win ballgames and I want to have fun.”
Wynn said that Alabama regards him as a combo defensive end.
“Sort of the way Jonathan Allen played it,” Wynn said. “Defensive end or a combo ‘3’ technique. That was a big selling point for me. When I went down there they showed me how I could fit into their defense and how similar my body-type was to Jonathan Allen’s. The things he did in that defense was just incredible. So I want to have that same kind of impact and make those same kinds of plays. If not do better, then maybe do just as well.”