February visit by Alabama 5-star WR commit Ryan Williams 'critical' for Auburn

Saraland (Ala.) Five-Star Plus+ wide receiver Ryan Williams committed to Alabama in October 2022 as a member of the 2025 recruiting cycle. Shortly before the December early signing period for the 2024 class, he reclassified with the decision to sign his letter of intent in February.

Despite his long commitment to the Crimson Tide, Auburn has not given up in Ryan Williams’ recruitment. The Tigers have continued to push to flip Williams while he has continued to visit the Plains. At least one more visit is on the schedule.

Auburn insider Jeffrey Lee spoke about Williams’ upcoming February visit to Auburn and the status of the Tigers’ recruiting pitch on The Inside Scoop football recruiting show.

“It’s absolutely critical, Josh,” Lee said about Williams’ future visit. “You know, he says he’s 100% locked in with the Tide, no reason to think he’s not except for he wants to take other visits. Now, how much do you read into that? Well, Alabama fans, if the roles were reversed, Auburn fans certainly would be worried about a five-star commitment taking a visit to Alabama the last weekend before signing day. You know, we’ve been saying on this show, Josh, that Auburn is a legitimate threat to Alabama here.

“Hugh Freeze has gone above and beyond what it takes to get this kid — at least his attention. Wanted that last official visit and Chad Simmons got from Ryan Williams the date — it’s locked in that first weekend of February. So gonna be a lot of ups and downs in this recruitment. Going to be a crazy ride, as we all expect. But having that last visit for Auburn will be big.”

Auburn able to snag Williams’ final visit

Williams will visit Auburn the final weekend before the recruiting dead period goes into effect — an important win on the calendar for Freeze and his staff.

“I think Hugh Freeze was looking ahead. He was looking ahead at this and was like, ‘Let me go ahead and get this locked in before other schools start thinking about this.’ He was ahead of the curve here. And let’s not forget, Ryan Williams was on Auburn’s campus the last day before the dead period in December visiting with Cam Coleman and Perry Thompson and those guys — those commitments, the signees. So he was here the last day before the dead period in December and he will be in Auburn the last day before the dead period in February.

“So getting those last in-person visits, man, very crucial. Very important. And Hugh Freeze, he’s very good at the in-person communications. So getting that will be absolutely big for Auburn in their attempts to flip him.”

Tigers signees continue to aid recruiting effort

Auburn has already received letters of intent from four wide receivers in the 2024 cycle. Rather than shy away from competition, that group has been vocal in its attempt to bring Williams to the Plains.

“I think it starts with Cam Coleman, it starts with Perry Thompson. Those wide receivers, they want the ‘Freeze 5’ as it’s been known. Bryce Cain, Malcolm Simmons, Cam Coleman, Perry Thompson all have signed. Auburn wants that fifth guy. Cam Coleman has been very vocal about that on Instagram, on X. So I think it starts with those wide receivers. Walker White has also been in there as well.

“And let’s not forget Ryan Williams’ teammate, Antonio Coleman, he’s a 2025 kid but he just flipped from Alabama to Auburn shortly after the December signing day. So they’ve got plenty of mouths in his ears going into January.”