Phidarian Mathis, the 37th-ranked player in the ESPN 300 and the seventh-ranked defensive tackle in the 2017 recruiting class, committed to Alabama in an unusual commitment ceremony on Tuesday, the Baton Rouge (La.) Advocate reported.
Mathis, from Monroe (La.) Neville High, chose Alabama over LSU and TCU.
The 6-foot-4, 287-pound Mathis committed from the grave of Tyrell Cameron, who died after a collision during a 2015 football game. Cameron played for Franklin Parish in Winnsboro, about 40 miles southeast of Monroe.
Wednesday is National Signing Day, when oral commitments can first be made binding.