Alabama, Auburn still battling for 2025 5-star Crimson Tide WR commit Ryan Williams

Saraland (Ala.) 2025 Five-Star Plus+ wide receiver Ryan Williams committed to Alabama just over a year ago. He has continued to take visits to schools around the Southeast, but for now remains locked in with Alabama.

That list of visits includes a trip to Georgia in early October and to Auburn this past weekend.

Alabama recruiting insider Andrew Bone spoke with Josh Newberg on On3’s The Inside Scoop football recruiting show about flip concerns surrounding Williams’ recruitment.

Alabama feels confident

“Yeah, I don’t think there’s really much cause for major concern just yet,” Bone said about the likelihood of Williams flipping his commitment. “This is a kid who has said multiple times that he was going to take visits during the season, including trips to Auburn. He’s visited Georgia, he’s going to visit Texas. I think when he starts slowing down trips to Tuscaloosa, that’s when you start being a little bit more about Ryan. Now he’s been to four of Alabama’s five home games this season. He’s going to be back for the LSU game next weekend. So I think the more you see him in Tuscaloosa, the better obviously. Obviously, Auburn fans probably feel a little bit different, they probably feel pretty confident after he spent the weekend down on the Plains this past weekend.

“From an Alabama perspective, I think they feel pretty confident and comfortable about where things stand in their pursuit with him and where things stand as far as his commitment,” Bone continued. “And we did speak with Ryan on Sunday evening — now if he was on flip watch, I don’t necessarily think he would talk to Joseph on Sunday night coming off that trip. But he got a chance to talk to him, he says he’s 100%, he’s still recruiting others to join him at Alabama. It’s going to be something that we’re obviously going to continue to monitor and watch. He says he’s going to go back to Auburn for the Iron Bowl next month. And Auburn is going to continue to heavily recruit him, I mean he’s a big-time player and certainly a major target for several schools.

Auburn looking for an opening

“But Auburn certainly feels like they have a strong chance to flip him there,” Bone added. “But from an Auburn perspective, you should. He just spent the weekend on Auburn’s campus. There’s a lot of momentum there with some other recruits — they were able to flip Perry Thompson away from Alabama back in the summer. But as of right now, from an Alabama perspective, we still feel pretty confident that he is still 100% committed to Alabama — because that’s what he says, that’s what we’re kind of going by.

“So until he decides to reopen things or says that his commitment is soft or he’s 60% or 70% committed, I think then you start to feel that Auburn’s got a really strong chance to flip him.”

Tigers feel confident as well

Auburn is feeling some confidence of its own after Williams chose to visit the Plains this past weekend. Auburn recruiting insider Jeffrey Lee also spoke with Newberg on The Inside Scoop.

“A lot of hope, a lot of optimism for Auburn, some confidence there as well,” Lee said. “Ryan spent the weekend of the Georgia game in Auburn, he came back this weekend, arrived Friday, spent time with the coaches, went to the game on Saturday, stayed in Auburn on Sunday, spent more time with the coaches. I’m telling you, this is going to be something to track moving forward, especially if he does reclassify, I think Auburn has made a very good pitch. Hugh Freeze, Marcus Davis, all these guys are pushing for this kid to come in and help them immediately and he’s certainly listening.”

Possibility for reclassification

Miami Central five-star Florida State defensive line commit Armondo Blount made news this past weekend when he reclassified from the 2025 recruiting class to 2024. Lee said there is a chance Williams makes a similar decision.

“Absolutely. I think it’s more likely than not, at this point,” Lee said. “I think Ryan has his mind made up that he wants to, I think everything’s kind of falling in line for him. He told me Saturday night that he would know for sure one way or the other maybe early December, so maybe about five or six more weeks he would make that declaration if he does reclassify. I thought it was interesting to note that if he does reclassify, he’s not going to sign until February signing day.

“And in that time before he announces in — early December, let’s say — between that February signing day, he’s planning to take some official visits. So, Auburn could potentially get him back for the Iron Bowl, which he’s already set on doing, and then maybe even back for an official visit in December or January. I’m leaning more towards the 2024 class for Ryan Williams, and I think Auburn…they’re pushing for a 50-50 right now with Bama.”