Alabama landing a 4-star defensive tackle commitment on the eve of National Signing Day is typically not news in that the sky being blue is not news. Some things just... are.
But it’s not every day -- or any day, really, other than this one -- that a player commits from the cemetery.
Phidarian Mathis is here. Will it be #LSU, #Bama or #TCU? @LSUonScout pic.twitter.com/DP8RynPVkk
— Billy Embody (@BillyEmbody) January 31, 2017
Phidarian Mathis, a 4-star defensive tackle from Monroe, La., put on an Alabama hat over LSU and TCU in the most unusual of places to honor his late friend Tyrell Cameron. Cameron died from internal bleeding resulting from a broken neck suffered while covering a punt in a 2015 Franklin Parish (La.) High School game.
For anyone wondering, Mathis is sitting next to the grave of his friend Tyrell Cameron who died on football field in 2015.
— Andrew Lopez (@_Andrew_Lopez) January 31, 2017
Phidarian Mathis sitting behind a picture collage of Tyrell Cameron. pic.twitter.com/FwhMObs7ug
— Andrew Lopez (@_Andrew_Lopez) January 31, 2017
LSU reportedly pursued Mathis hard late down the stretch, but the player said Tuesday he never heard from Tigers defensive line coach Pete Jenkins.
Full quote from Phidarian Mathis on his non-relationship with #LSU DL coach Pete Jenkins pic.twitter.com/tsf1n9qxcp
— Andrew Lopez (@_Andrew_Lopez) January 31, 2017
Mathis becomes the 25th pledge and 15th 4-star to join Alabama’s top-ranked class, according to the 247Sports composite rankings.