Alabama loses 5-star wide receiver commit after Nick Saban retirement

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Ryan Williams, a five-star wide receiver who was set to play for the Crimson Tide starting in 2024, decommitted from Alabama on Wednesday following Nick Saban’s retirement announcement.

Williams told ESPN he did not know of the news until he heard it on social media. He had been committed to Alabama since October but was going to wait to sign his national letter of intent until his birthday in February. The early signing period was in December.

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A general view of an Alabama logo painted on the field prior to the SEC Championship game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Georgia Bulldogs at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Dec. 2, 2023 in Atlanta. (Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)

"I had no idea, actually," he told ESPN. "It's the dead period and I just saw all the other players transferring or declaring for the draft. I was wondering (what would happen), but I found out through Twitter (that Saban was retiring).

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

Saban’s retirement came as a big surprise among college football fans.

The Alabama Million Dollar Marching Band performs before the college football SEC Championship game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Georgia Bulldogs on Dec. 2, 2023 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. (David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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"The University