BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — A visit was all it took for Newton senior running back Nuru Tinch to decide that the University of Alabama-Birmingham was the place for him. 

Tinch committed to UAB Thursday night, following an official visit to the school with assistant Newton Rams coach Josh Skelton accompanying him. Tinch chose the upstart Blazers over offers from Ball State, Central Michigan and Troy, as well as some interest from 2016 college football runner up Alabama. 

The 5-foot-11, 202 pound tailback missed much of the 2016 season due to injury, but still managed 214 rushing yards and two scores in six games played, with a per-carry average of 5.4 yards. 

This season, a healthy Tinch will team up with junior Adarius Thomas to make potentially one of the most lethal one-two running back tandems in the state. 

Tinch’s pledge makes him the 12th UAB commitment for the 2018 recruiting class. The Blazers will resume its football program this season after shutting it down and back in December 2014.  

Stay tuned to www.covnews.com, as we bring you more from Tinch and his commitment.