Alabama Crimson Tide Offers Scholarship To Eighth-Grade LB Jesus Machado

Jesus Machado, an eighth-grader from Hialeah (Fla.) Champagnat Catholic, has received an offer from the University of Alabama, according to ESPN.

Alabama Crimson Tide Offers Scholarship To Eighth-Grade Jesus Machado

He also received offers from Iowa State, Michigan State, West Virginia and North Carolina State, but since the Alabama Crimson Tide are the defending national champions, their offer is getting the most attention.

Machado will begin his freshman year this fall, which means he would be part of the 2020 signing class of wherever he ultimately chooses to go.

According to Machado’s profile at 247sports.com, he was recruited by Alabama assistant coach Mario Cristobal. The Crimson Tide’s offensive line coach is in charge of Miami-area recruiting for Alabama as a former Miami Hurricanes player and assistant coach, and the former head coach at Florida International. Machado’s profile also lists the outsider linebacker at 6-foot, 195 pounds.

College coaches have extended scholarship offers to younger prospects over the years, in an effort to beat the competition by gaining an earlier start on building a relationship. The addition of new summer camps across the country has allowed for more solid evaluations and less need for extensive high-school game film.

However, offers at Machado’s age still remain very rare.

Running back Dylan Moses drew similar attention in 2013 when he drew a lengthy list of scholarship offers before beginning his high school career at University High in Baton Rouge, La. Moses committed to LSU that year, but later reopened his recruitment.

Verbal offers are non-binding and prospects are not allowed receive written offers until their senior season.

PHOTO: GLENDALE, AZ – JANUARY 11: O.J. Howard #88 of the Alabama Crimson Tide celebrates after scoring a 53 yard touchdown in the third quarter against the Clemson Tigers during the 2016 College Football Playoff National Championship Game at University of Phoenix Stadium on January 11, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)