2025 5-star Alabama WR commit Ryan Williams gives Horns down gesture

They may be teammates now but Saraland (Ala.) five-star wide receiver Ryan Williams and four-star quarterback K.J. Lacey will be future SEC foes when they head to college.

Two of the top 2025 recruits in the country, Williams is an Alabama pledge and Lacey is committed to Texas. Though they may be committed to different schools now, Williams hasn’t stopped trying to recruit his top pass-catcher to Austin with him.

During a media day session on Wednesday, Lacey was asked what the likelihood of him getting to flip Williams was. Lacey spoke and said that he has been trying but Williams remains loyal to the Crimson Tide. As he spoke Williams laughed and gave a quick Horns down gesture.

Texas commit and Saraland QB KJ Lacey on trying to flip his buddy Ryan Williams from Alabama to the Longhorns with Williams looking on. @kjlacey7 @Ryanwms1 pic.twitter.com/dL7gKt5taJ

— Ben Thomas (@BenThomasPreps) August 2, 2023

Lacey has been committed to Texas since June 3. He’s ranked as the No. 53 overall player in the 2025 On3 Industry Ranking, the No. 3 quarterback and the No. 7 player in Alabama.

Williams is a long-time Alabama pledge having committed to the Crimson Tide last October. He’s ranked as the No. 3 player in the class, the No. 1 wide receiver and No. 1 player in Alabama.

Both Lacey and Williams had monster sophomore seasons last year leading their team to a state title. Williams was named as the state’s first ever sophomore to be named a Mr. Football winner catching 88 passes for 1,641 yards and 24 touchdowns, rushing for 700 yards and 15 touchdowns, returning two punts for touchdowns and passing for one more.

Lacey was almost automatic under center completing close to 64% of his passes for 3,177 yards, 40 touchdowns and only threw five interceptions. He also added five rushing touchdowns.

Williams headlines Alabama’s 2025 class

Williams is one of five pledges Alabama currently holds in its No. 1 ranked 2025 class. He is the highest-ranked player in that group.

The Crimson Tide also hold a commitment from another elite wide receiver in Jacksonville (Fla.) Mandarin standout four-star Jaime Ffrench. Ffrench is the No. 11 player in the 2025 class.

Alabama’s other 2025 commitments include IMG Academy (Fla.) four-star running back Anthony Rogers, Evans (Ga.) four-star interior offensive lineman Mason Short and Fairburn (Ga.) Langston Hughes four-star interior offensive lineman Dontrell Glover.

Lacey gives Texas its quarterback of the future

Lacey is so far the lone commitment in Texas’ 2025 class. He does give the Longhorns a key piece to the future as the expected successor to Arch Manning.

As for their 2024 class, Texas does have a quarterback commit Cypress (Texas) Cy-Fair three-star signal-caller Trey Owens. That group is comprised of 15 pledges so far and ranks as the No. 15 class in the country.