No. 9 recruit nixes Bama dedicate with Saban exit

• Tom VanHaaren, ESPN Personnel WriterJan 10, 2024, 07:32 PM ET

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  • ESPN staff author
  • Signed up with ESPN in 2011
  • Graduated from Central Michigan

Simply hours after it was known that Nick Saban was retiring as Alabama’s head coach, five-star pass receiver Ryan Williams informed ESPN on Wednesday that he has decommitted from the Crimson Tide’s 2024 recruiting class.Williams is the No. 9 overall possibility– and the No. 3 receiver– in the ESPN 300 rankings. A player out of Saraland, Alabama, Williams had actually been dedicated to the Crimson Tide given that October, and he was captured off guard by the news of Saban retiring.” I had no concept, really,” Williams informed ESPN.

“It’s the dead period and I simply saw all the other players transferring or stating for the draft. I was wondering [what would happen], but I discovered through Twitter [that Saban was retiring]” Williams called the Alabama coaches to make sure the news was genuine, and he stated

they verified that the famous coach was leaving, which was formally announced Wednesday night. Approximately an hour after the call, Williams stated he made the decision to decommit and reconsider his choices.”After Coach [Holmon] Wiggins leaving, it was currently hard, due to the fact that it’s

my position coach,”Williams said. “But you can constantly find another position coach. With Coach Saban leaving, it’s like the legacy leaving. That was the cherry on top. “Williams did not sign a nationwide letter of intent in December throughout the early finalizing period and had planned on waiting to sign until his birthday in February. Because he is anonymous, he is totally free to continue his hiring process.The NCAA hiring calendar is currently in a dead period till Friday, which indicates there is no in-person contact with coaches and potential customers, however Williams currently has an excellent idea of the schools he will think about after constructing relationships with other coaches.”Texas has constantly been among my favorites because of [Steve] Sarkisian and his offense and they’re a huge contender, one of the teams that beat Alabama, “Williams said.”They’re definitely among the schools at the top of the list for me. Obviously, Texas A&M with my receivers coach from Alabama going there, and after that Auburn.”Williams stated he will visit Texas A&M this weekend and had actually initially planned to check out Alabama the following weekend. He said he’s not sure yet if that see will take place, and much of that choice will depend upon whether Alabama finds a new coach by that time.