Alabama’s offensive line has been under the microscope this offseason-and for good reason. After a season where the Tide ranked 131st in rushing success rate, new head coach Kalen DeBoer and general manager Courtney Morgan knew they had to overhaul the trenches.
They’ve brought in six transfers to help stabilize the unit, but the long-term fix still runs through high school recruiting. And that’s where things just got a bit more complicated.
Jatori Williams, a four-star interior lineman out of Phenix City, Alabama, was once a cornerstone of that future. The 6-foot-5, 320-pound prospect committed to Alabama in September, giving the Tide a major in-state win. But that momentum didn’t last-Williams decommitted on December 1 and is now eyeing another program with deep SEC ties: Miami.
Williams has scheduled an official visit to Coral Gables for June 5, and that trip isn’t just a vacation. The Hurricanes, led by former Alabama assistant Mario Cristobal, have built a reputation as one of the nation’s premier developers of offensive line talent.
That reputation was on full display during their run to the National Championship Game, where their trench play-on both sides of the ball-was a key reason they stood toe-to-toe with Indiana. And let’s not forget, it was Indiana that steamrolled Alabama in the Rose Bowl.
This isn’t just about one recruit. Williams is ranked No. 107 overall and is the sixth-best interior offensive lineman in the 2027 class.
He’s exactly the kind of foundational piece Alabama needs if it wants to rebuild its line through the high school ranks. The 2026 class, while strong overall (ranked No. 3 nationally), didn’t land a top-200 offensive lineman.
The highest-ranked was Bryson Cooley at No. 203.
That’s not ideal for a program that has long prided itself on dominating the line of scrimmage.
The challenge? The transfer portal is notoriously thin when it comes to offensive linemen.
You might find a gem here or there, but building an entire unit through the portal is a risky proposition-especially for a program like Alabama, which is trying to maintain elite status year after year. That’s why losing a talent like Williams to a rising Miami program would sting.
Not just because of who he is, but because of what he represents: a chance to rebuild the offensive line pipeline from within the state.
There’s still time for Alabama to get back in the mix. Recruiting is a long game, and June is a long way from signing day. But right now, the momentum is with Miami-and for Tide fans, that’s a storyline worth watching closely.