Alabama already lost a top recruit after Nick Saban’s retirement

It’s too early to say Alabama has to accept a new normal, but they’re certainly feeling the sting of Nick Saban’s retirement already.

Less than 24 hours after the legendary Crimson Tide coach announced his retirement, five-star wide receiver Ryan Williams announced he was removing his commitment from the Tide, directly citing Saban’s exit as a key reason he would consider other options.

“I had no idea, actually,” Williams 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].”

The Saraland, Alabama native was already cooling on the idea of playing for the Tide after wide receivers coach Holmon Wiggins left Alabama to join Mike Elko’s staff at Texas A&M. Saban now leaving was the final straw, Williams told ESPN.

“After Coach [Holmon] Wiggins leaving, it was already hard, because it’s my position coach,” Williams said. “But you can always find another position coach. With Coach Saban leaving, it’s like the legacy leaving. That was the cherry on top.”

It’s unclear whether or not Williams will be the first of several top prospects to remove their commitment from Alabama. The receiver did not sign his official offer, intending to do so in February after his birthday — which leaves his recruiting open. Williams was also highly coveted in state by Auburn, as well as receiving offers from Texas, Arkansas and Colorado.

What is clear is that the Tide now faces a serious battle to remain ahead of recruiting. The school does not have the kind of NIL money that other top schools do, but Saban’s mystique was often able to counteract the lack of funds. This is precisely something the Tuscaloosa News wrote about in December, with Saban’s pitch routinely involving selling players on the idea of their future in the NFL, rather than taking money right now.

Without Saban’s pedigree it’s unclear how that process evolves moving forward. A new coach will not only need to assert themselves as a winner immediately, but try to evoke the same arguments as Saban — without the resume to back it up.

Until the Tide proves they can be a perennial contender without Saban we might see more and more players assess their options, rather than head to Tuscaloosa.