Four-star OG Richie Petitbon commits to Alabama

Richie Petitbon, one of the most highly touted offensive guards in the class of 2015, has chosen to roll with the Tide following his high school career, as first reported by Adam Friedman of Rivals.

The Annapolis native out of Gonzaga is a four-star recruit who is rated the fourth-best guard in his class as well as the No. 1 overall player in Washington D.C, according to 247sports composite. Petitbon's 6'4", 301-pound frame makes him a wall on the line and his footwork compliments his body type to protect the passer and fuel the run game. He was named first team All-WCAC for his play on the offensive line following his junior season, but has the ability to play defensive tackle as well.

Petitbon received offers from 19 schools but narrowed his interest to the Tide, Maryland, LSU and Penn State. He attended camp at Alabama last July and followed with an unofficial visit to College Park in August, but has decided to play in Tuscaloosa.

The Tide were long considered the leader for Petitbon's services, and it appears his recruitment has ended early. Petitbon's father played linebacker for the Terrapins, and the close proximity to his home put Maryland in Petitbon's top 4, but to no avail. The Terps will have to look elsewhere for a similar calibre force in the trenches -- they're in on plenty of top linemen, but Petitbon was the top-rated player in D.C. for a reason.