When you're trying to close the gap on a rival that’s beaten you six straight times and is reloading with another elite recruiting class, even the smallest wins feel a little bigger. That’s where Auburn finds itself right now-and flipping a wide receiver from Alabama, even one who’s not a headliner, is a headline on the Plains.
On Wednesday, 3-star wide receiver Brian Williams Jr. flipped his commitment from Alabama to Auburn. The 6-foot-4, 200-pound pass catcher out of Orlando had been committed to the Crimson Tide since July, but the momentum had been shifting for a while. Now, he’s headed to the Tigers, giving new head coach Alex Golesh a small but notable early recruiting win.
Let’s be clear: this isn’t a move that shakes the foundation of Alabama’s class. Williams was always considered a bit of a project-high upside, but not a sure thing.
The Tide staff took a swing on his potential, hoping he’d make a leap during his senior season. That leap never came, and as a result, Williams quietly slid down the Tide’s priority list.
His recruiting ranking reflects that shift-he currently sits outside the top 1,000 in the 247Sports composite.
Still, this is college football, and optics matter. Auburn, a program trying to claw its way back into relevance in the SEC, just took a player from Alabama.
And while that player may not have been at the top of the Tide’s board, the flip is symbolic. It’s a sign that Golesh is already making inroads, and it gives Auburn fans something to rally around in a cycle where the Tigers’ class is otherwise lagging near the bottom of the conference.
Williams had been trending away from Alabama for months. For a time, it looked like USF might be his next stop-a move that would’ve made sense given the likelihood of earlier playing time.
But the equation changed when Golesh, formerly USF’s head coach, took the reins at Auburn. With the coach he connected with now leading an SEC program, Williams chose to follow.
For Alabama, this is more of a reshuffling than a setback. The Tide already locked up their top wide receiver target in 5-star Cederian Morgan and are still in the mix for 4-star Samson Gash, who’s currently committed to Michigan State but hasn’t signed yet. Gash is waiting until the spring, and while that gives Alabama more time to make a move, it also gives Michigan State time to reinforce its pitch.
Either way, Alabama’s wide receiver room is in flux heading into 2026. Germie Bernard is out of eligibility after this season, and junior Isaiah Horton could opt to enter the NFL Draft. Add in the possibility of backup receivers like Cole Adams and Jalen Hale exploring the Transfer Portal, and the Tide may find themselves needing more than just one high school signee at the position.
That likely means Alabama will be active in the portal this offseason, looking for experienced, plug-and-play options to round out the room. It’s a familiar formula in today’s game-build through high school recruiting, but patch with the portal when necessary.
So while Brian Williams Jr.’s flip won’t change the trajectory of Alabama’s class, it does offer a glimpse into the ongoing chess match between two fierce rivals-one reloading, the other rebuilding. For Auburn, it’s a small win. For Alabama, it’s a signal to adjust the board and make the next move.