Alabama Welcomes No. 1 European Prospect For Official Visit

The 2023 recruiting cycle is well underway as schools across the nation are hosting prospects for summer visits. This past weekend the Crimson Tide brought in a number of top prospects for an official visit.

Most of the attention was given to the Tide's two favorite quarterbacks in the class, Eli Holstein and Arch Manning, but perhaps the most unique prospect on campus this weekend was offensive tackle Olaus Alinen.

Alinen, a 4-star tackle from Windsor, CT., is not only the top prospect in the state of Connecticut but he's the No. 1 high school player from Europe.

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Alinen moved from Finland to the United States for his junior year of high school at The Loomis Chaffee School in Connecticut to get on college recruiting radars. His father, Klaus, was the first Finn to sign a contract in the NFL as he was signed with the Atlanta Falcons in 2006 but never appeared in a game. He spent three seasons in NFL Europe with the Berlin Thunder as a tight end and long-snapper.

The 6-foot-6, 315 pound tackle was in Tuscaloosa this weekend with his entire family as he's narrowing down where he will play college football in 2023. According to BamaInsider's Andrew Bone it was his fourth visit to The Capstone but just the first for his immediate family.

Alinen told Bone that he enjoyed his time with his host Tyler Booker and was encouraged by conversations with Nick Saban and Alabama offensive line coach Eric Wolford. He is expected to take an official visit to the University of Georgia next weekend and plans on making his college decision next month.