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Five-star football prospect Ezavier “EJ” Crowell will be suspended for his season debut ahead of what should be his final high school campaign. A potential inducement is at the center of the controversy.
It’s believed that the Alabama commit accepted the illegal gift of a Mercedes-Benz in the offseason. Jackson High School is refuting those claims.
The announcement comes before one of the most anticipated matchups in the Yellowhammer State. Jackson, the top-ranked high school in the 4A class, is set to face third-ranked Saraland of Class 6A on Friday.
Jackson will be without its star player.
Who is EJ Crowell?
The running back is a Top 35 player nationally, and the second-best player at his position. That rating might’ve been higher had he not reclassified.
Crowell was initially a 2027 recruit. Ahead of his junior year, the 17-year-old moved to the ’26 cycle.
The ball carrier committed to Alabama over Auburn, Georgia, and Texas. He will stay home to play for the Crimson Tide next year.
First, he needs to finish out his high school career on a strong note. That task has already proven difficult.
Jackson High disagrees with the suspension.
He will miss the season opener against Saraland before returning for Game 2. He’s reported to have violated AHSAA amateurism rules, which the school self-reported.
The violation revolves around a 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLE the running back was seen driving earlier this summer. EJ Crowell says it was a loan from a family friend. The high school association thought otherwise.
Below you can find the AHSAA amateurism rule:
SECTION 8. Only amateurs are eligible. An amateur is one who does not use his/her knowledge of athletics or athletic skill for gain. Amateur standing shall be further determined by the following standards:
(a). A student is ineligible if he/she has received money as a prize, or has sold a prize received in a contest, or has bet on a contest in which he/she is a participant.
(b). Professionalism is defined as accepting remuneration, directly or indirectly, for playing on athletic teams and in sports activities or for playing under an assumed name.
(c). A student who accepts material or financial inducement from any source is ineligible.
Crowell is said to have violated part (c) of that code. He’s being punished in the form of a one-game suspension.
While Jackson High accepted the ruling, it continues to proclaim innocence. In a letter written to the AHSAA, it said, “We strongly believe there has been no violation.”
Where the car came from remains unclear. The school is sticking with Crowell’s story of a loan from a family friend. The Mercedes has since been returned to the owner.