Dunlap 4-star TE Mack Sutter commits to Alabama: “This is where I want to be”
- Jonathan Michel
- 8 hours ago
- 6 min read
PEORIA — From ‘Roll Eags’ to ‘Roll Tide’, Mack Sutter is taking his talents to Tuscaloosa.
The Dunlap 4-star tight end, ranked by 247Sports as the No. 80 player in the country and the top player in the Class of 2026 in Illinois, made his commitment to the Alabama Crimson Tide on Thursday night.
Sutter thanked his high school teammates, coaches, friends, family and parents before uttering the magic words: “With that being said, I’ll be going to the University of Alabama,” followed by raucous cheers from over 100 people in attendance.
“After I visited there, I kind of really realized how electric it was there,” he added. “Walking around there at their facility, they're always talking about the national championship and that's a thing I've seen a lot there that I haven’t seen as much at other places and I like that they all have that mentality.”
His choice marks the end of a months-long recruiting chase, where he received offers from 45 Division I programs and chose Alabama over Illinois, Ohio State and Ole Miss, the other schools in his top four.
“There were 40-some schools that came through my office and talked to me about Mack,” Sutter’s high school head coach Brett Cazalet said. “And none of them agreed where he should go but they all agreed on one thing and that was the way he handled himself countless times.”
“He's done a great job of narrowing things down and figuring out what was important to him and making his choice. Alabama is an unbelievable opportunity.”
Why Sutter chose the Tide
Sutter said that Alabama’s tradition of success, gameday atmosphere and family-like treatment were all big factors in his decision. He saw the Crimson Tide defeat fellow powerhouse Georgia while on a visit, which was a big turning point in his recruitment journey.
His mind was made up when he made his official visit to Alabama on June 20.
“After the Alabama/Georgia game, I kind of thought this is what I want because growing up, I always wanted to play on the biggest stage,” Sutter said. “After seeing that crazy atmosphere, I was like ‘This is where I want to be.’”
“My heart was always there from day one.”
Alabama football’s success needs little introduction.
The Crimson Tide have won 18 national championships, most recently in 2020, and 30 SEC titles. Since 2015, the Tide have had 99 players selected in the NFL Draft with 33 of those going in the first round. Notable recent Crimson Tide tight ends include Super Bowl champion O.J. Howard, Irv Smith Jr., Cameron Latu and Robbie Ouzts.
“I know every day I'm going to have to work for my name so I can create a name for myself there in the tight end room and be one of the great tight ends there, which is a goal for me,” Sutter said.
Sutter relishes the opportunity to play against top-tier competition every Saturday and in practice, which was another key factor in his decision. The program’s competitiveness also matches his approach as a football player.
“I feel like I'll be at my best if I go to a place where I'm playing against the best players in the world every day,” Sutter said. “I want to push my limits and I know that the staff there also will help me get there.”
“I've carried a lot of weight on my shoulders and people expect a lot so I feel like I’m going to a place where they're expecting a lot,” he added. “They say the ‘Bama standard down there and it really is true because people always look at these guys as the champions.”
Sutter’s commitment to the Crimson Tide boosts their 2026 class, which was ranked No. 20 by 247Sports entering Thursday night but now stands at No. 11 following his commitment.
Sutter is the eighth four-star commit in Alabama’s current group. His official visit to Tuscaloosa on June 20 was his final visit out of his top four after he visited Illinois on April 11, Ole Miss on April 25 and Ohio State on May 30.
The Dunlap star is Alabama’s third-highest ranked player in their 2026 class and is the lone tight end in the group so far. The Tide have five new tight ends in their 2025 class, led by four-star recruits Kaleb Edwards and Marshall Pritchett.
“A good family” right by his side
Sutter quickly gained acclaim as one of the highest-prized recruits in Peoria-area football history and earned Mid-Illini all-conference honors in his sophomore and junior seasons.
The 6-foot-5, 230-pound tight end tallied 505 yards on 35 catches with seven touchdowns in 2024. As a linebacker, he also racked up 29 tackles and six sacks while forcing four fumbles. Also playing quarterback at times, Sutter and the Eagles went 6-4 and qualified for the IHSA Class 6A playoffs in both of those seasons.
Nearly all of Sutter’s weekends last fall consisted of playing on Friday nights and many late nights and early mornings driving with his family, friends and coaches. The recruitment process was just as much of a treat for his parents, former NFL linebacker Eddie and his wife Tracy, as it was for him.
“We were fortunate to see a lot of places and he’s just so fortunate to meet a lot of great coaches, a lot of great schools and a lot of great people,” Eddie Sutter said. “The only downside is he can only choose one.”
“It's overwhelming for a mom because there's a lot of logistics that go into traveling but it's fun and I'm glad that he can just be excited,” Tracy Sutter said. “It's something he's wanted from the very beginning.”
Cazalet, who accompanied Sutter and left at 3 a.m. for his visit for the Alabama/Georgia game, noted his gratefulness to be part of the process, something he says “very few coaches get to experience.”
“I remember my assistant as we were leaving [after] they had just beaten Georgia and he said, ‘I don't know how you say no to this,” Cazalet said.
“A lot of things he was born with, but the effort that this young man has put in to be the player that he is and the young man he is is just spectacular,” he added.
Through all of the miles traversed, meetings, tours, offer letters and the ever-present spotlight, Sutter leaned on his family’s advice and support during an oftentimes stressful experience for a 16 and 17-year old.
“I relied on my family a lot. I got a good family,” Sutter said. “My parents are just awesome, and they've helped me a ton but I just kind of try to stay composed and humble through the process.”
Eddie and Tracy Sutter weren’t the only family members that Mack could count on.
His cousins, P.J. Mangieri, Nick Mangieri and Charlie Mangieri all played college football for Big 10 programs. Additionally, Sutter’s three older sisters — Grace, Elle and Lily all played soccer for Dunlap with Elle (North Central College) and Lily (Lindenwood) going on to play collegiately.
“A lot of coaches [told him] you have a good resource, which is us, obviously not to that extent and different sports and everything but similar processes,” Lily Sutter said. “It's cool just being able to take a step back and be able to observe, but also be so involved in the mix.”
“We couldn't have ever asked for anything better,” Tracy Sutter said. “Clearly you want your kids to be healthy and happy but this is a really cool journey for all of them.”
Also accompanying on visits was Mack’s younger brother Bo, who will be a sophomore on Dunlap’s football team this coming fall. Sutter’s commitment and composure while in the recruiting limelight made him a proud brother and set an example that he wishes to follow.
Bo received his first college offer from Illinois while on his brother’s official visit in Champaign.
“He's committing to such a big program and the history behind it, he got that chance and I'm just proud of him for sure,” Bo Sutter said. “I'm hoping I don't miss [the travel] too much, because I hope I go through and get that opportunity.”
The next few months
So what now for Mack Sutter?
The Eagles star is relieved that the recruiting phase of his football career is over and that he can enjoy the upcoming season without a decision looming. Dunlap will begin its 2025 season on August 29 at Galesburg.
“It just feels really good that I can kind of focus on one school and really root for them and just know that that's where I'm going,” Sutter said.
Dozens of Sutter’s friends and teammates were in attendance, some of which received Alabama t-shirts that he threw into the crowd following his announcement.
Even though he’ll have a new team and a new family in Tuscaloosa one year from now, Sutter won’t forget those who were by his side through a chapter of his life that has reached its culmination.
“I'm glad because I can also spend more time at home with my friends,” Sutter said. “It was fun seeing all these places but it also feels better that it's settled.”