Two-time Mr. Football Ryan Williams makes it official, signs with Alabama

The Ryan Williams high school recruiting saga is officially over.

The state’s only two-time Mr. Football signed with Alabama on Wednesday, ending a highly-publicized recruitment that saw him commit to the Crimson Tide as a sophomore, decommit following Nick Saban’s retirement and recommit under new coach Kalen DeBoer.

In the end, he stuck with the Crimson Tide despite heavy pressure from in-state rival Auburn, SEC newcomer Texas and plenty of other schools. Though he originally planned to commit and sign on Friday, his 17th birthday, Williams instead signed with eight of his Saraland teammates at the high school this morning.

“Great. Amazing. Outstanding. Fantastic. Beautiful. It feels great, honestly,” Williams said.

The ceremony attracted a larger than normal crowd of media members as well as Alabama unofficial mascot, Roll Tide Willie, and Tide quarterback legend and Mobile native Scott Hunter.

Williams was named the Class 6A Back of the Year and Mr. Football for the second straight season last week by the Alabama Sports Writers Association. He also is the reigning two-time Gatorade Alabama Player of the Year and the No. 1 player on AL.com’s A-List of top senior prospects in the state. The 247 composite rankings have him as the No. 4 senior recruit in the nation.

During the 2023 season, he caught 71 passes for 1,320 yards and 19 TDs, rushed for 269 yards and seven scores, threw a touchdown pass and returned both a punt and kickoff for TDs. He scored 4 TDs in Saraland’s loss to Clay-Chalkville in the Class 6A title game in, ironically, Tuscaloosa’s Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Williams said the last few months have been challenging as he made his final college decision.

“It definitely wasn’t easy with everyone pulling at me and everyone wanting a piece of me,” he said. “It was definitely a tough decision. But once I talked to coach DeBoer and the new staff, it made me feel real comfortable.”

Even though he decommitted when Saban announced his retirement, Williams said — in the end — it would have been difficult to pull him away from the Crimson Tide.

“They were always at the top of the list,” he said. “I just want to get to know the new staff. It’s Alabama. I knew we were going to get someone.”

Williams also credited fellow Alabama signee and Clay-Chalkville star Jaylen Mbakwe with helping him make the final decision to sign with the Crimson Tide.

“I’m going to give him the No. 1 recruiter (title),” he said. “I’ve got to give it to him. If I don’t, he might beat me up. We’ve got to play together. We are like best friends.”

In what turned out to be his final two high school seasons, Williams caught 159 passes for 2,961 yards and 43 TDs. He also rushed for a combined 969 yards and 22 scores. He announced in December he would reclassify into the Class of 2024, making the 2023 season his last as a prep star.

“I think where Ryan goes from here is he goes back to work,” Saraland head coach Jeff Kelly said. “Just knowing the young man he is, I don’t think he does anything else. I think he understands this was a part of his journey. It was an exciting part at times and a stressful part at times. He would probably be the first to tell you that he’s ready to get back to ball, get back to training, to getting his body ready to compete at another level.”

Other Saraland players honored Wednesday were Myron Dunklin (North Alabama), Delvon Gulley (Alabama A&M), Daylan Martin (Jacksonville State), Jermaine Paramore (Troy), Brandon Autery (Mississippi College), Xavier Crenshaw (Kentucky Wesleyan), Jamison Curtis (Vanderbilt) and Jordan Dees (West Georgia). The group helped the Spartans to a 28-2 record over the last two seasons.