Texas Football: 5-Star Bama WR commit planning UT visit after win

The implications of the win for Texas football and head coach Steve Sarkisian over the No. 3 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide and head coach Nick Saban in Tuscaloosa this weekend will be felt on the recruiting trail in the 2024 and 2025 classes. Texas targets noticed what happened at Bryant-Denny Stadium in UT’s 10-point win over the Tide on Sep. 9.

One of the highest-rated Texas targets in the 2025 class, elite five-star Saraland (AL) wide receiver/Alabama commit Ryan Williams, attended the game at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Sep. 9 as a Tide visitor. And it surely seems like Texas’ double-digit win over the Tide caught Williams’ attention.

After the win over Alabama on Sep. 9, Williams told Horns247 (paid content) that he “plans to visit Texas” and that the Longhorns are one of his top three schools this fall. His other top schools are the Auburn Tigers and obviously Alabama, the school he’s committed to.

5-Star Alabama WR commit Ryan Williams reportedly planning a visit to Texas football after the win over the Tide

Williams said he is looking at an official or gameday visit to Texas and Auburn or potentially “both” an OV and gameday visit.

This news isn’t coming out of the blue that Williams is exploring the possibility of visiting Texas for a game this fall. We’ve heard rumblings of that possibility since his teammate and four-star UT quarterback commit KJ Lacey gave his pledge to the Longhorns in early June 2023.

It’s worth noting that Williams said he’s “still locked in” with his Alabama commitment and that he’s “just exploring my options”.

Texas playing the long game with Williams

But Texas has clearly impacted Williams as Sark and this staff continues to chip away at his commitment to the Tide. And if Texas gets Williams on campus for a visit for a game at DKR this fall, that gives this staff another opportunity to impress him and his camp.

Lacey is also helping Texas recruit Williams to the Forty Acres. That’s another factor giving Williams something to think about in the early stages of his recruitment.

If Texas keeps impressing with its play on the field this fall and keeps its foot on the gas chipping away at Williams’ commitment to the Tide, anything is possible. This is quite a tall task for Sark and the Longhorns staff to try and flip the No. 1 wide receiver recruit in the nation in the 2025 class in the 247Sports Composite and On3 Industry Ranking that also happens to be from Alabama.

We’ll continue to monitor this recruitment for updates regarding a possible visit for Williams to see Austin for a game this fall.