Alabama Football lands in-state OL Williams Sanders

Coach Nick Saban and Alabama Football got a long-anticipated commitment on Friday from 4-star offensive lineman William Sanders. Sanders is an in-state interior lineman from Brookwood, and his verbal commitment keeps Bama’s July recruiting momentum rolling.

Sanders projects as a guard at the college level. He is not the biggest offensive lineman at less than 300 pounds, but he moves really well for his size and will have the opportunity to put on size in Tuscaloosa.

In the 2023 class, Alabama Football made a point to go after massive offensive linemen. The Tide’s five offensive line commitments in that class included Kadyn Proctor, Wilkin Formby, Olaus Alinen, Roq Montgomery, and Miles McVay.

These five signees from the 2023 cycle carry an average height and weight of 6’6” and 336 pounds. Alabama offensive line coach Eric Wolford prefers to have this level of size on the front line to establish the run effectively and lean on defensive fronts over the course of a game.

Wolford helped Bama land that giant 2023 haul, and now he is building a quality 2024 group. Coach Wolford’s impact has been felt even beyond the class of 2024, as Alabama already has two offensive line commitments in 2025 and another one in 2026.

So far in its 2024 recruiting class, Bama has pursued primarily interior offensive linemen. The Crimson Tide have also been signing “smaller” linemen such as William Sanders, Joseph Ionata, and Casey Poe. While they aren’t ranked particularly high, this trio provides a good nucleus for Bama’s 2024 offensive line haul.

Last December, Coach Saban and crew managed to flip Kadyn Proctor, the top offensive line prospect in the country, just before signing day. It would be foolish to believe they don’t land a couple big names on the O-line before this cycle is finished.

William Sanders’ commitment gives Alabama Football 15 pledges in the 2024 class. Though this class is far from complete, Bama now sits squarely in the top-10 nationally and is ranked no. 6 by 247Sports.

Expect the Crimson Tide to close the summer strong and to continue building momentum into the season.