Steve Sarkisian and Kalen DeBoer side by side.
Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images (left), Photo by Brandon Sumrall/Getty Images (right)

Highly Touted 5-Star WR Cancels Texas Visit, Could Land in SEC

Ryan Williams, one of the best receivers in the 2024 class, decommitted from Alabama after Nick Saban left. He could be rethinking that.

Five-star wide receiver prospect Ryan Williams recently reneged on his commitment to Alabama after head coach Nick Saban retired.

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He was scheduled to visit the Texas Longhorns this coming weekend but has since decided not to do so.

With this cancellation, Williams is still on board to visit Auburn and Texas A&M. He already has visited LSU.

"Everything is neck and neck," Williams said. "I need someone to excel and take the throne."

Williams also visited with the new coaching staff at Alabama, headed by former Washington Huskies head coach Kalen DeBoer.

Some are speculating that the canceled visits could lead to Williams returning to Alabama. In fact, 247Sports' Cory Fravel predicted him there on Wednesday.

This would be a significant turn-around from his comments after his decommitment, which started with him saying he had "no idea" Saban would retire.

"Coach Wiggins leaving, it was already hard, because it's my position coach," Williams told ESPN. "But you can always find another position coach. With Coach Saban leaving, it's like the legacy leaving. That was the cherry on top."

Williams, an Alabama native, was a two-time Gatorade Player of the Year in the state. As a senior, he caught 72 passes for 1,324 yards and 19 touchdowns.

It's also worth noting the importance of his canceled visit to Texas, because he had spoken positively of the program, among others.

"Texas has always been one of my favorites because of [Steve] Sarkisian and his offense, and they're a big contender, one of the teams that beat Alabama," Williams told ESPN's Tom VanHaaren.

"They're definitely one of the schools at the top of the list for me," Williams said. "Of course, Texas A&M with my receivers coach from Alabama going there, and then Auburn."

Texas notably recently landed former Alabama wide receiver Isaiah Bond in the transfer portal, but it doesn't look like they'll be getting Williams.

Now, we'll look to see if Williams cancels any other scheduled visits and where he ultimately lands.

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