When you've lost to your hated rival six straight times and are going to sign a recruiting class that isn't even in the same stratosphere as theirs, you're bound to celebrate even the most trivial of victories.
That's what happened on Wednesday when 3-star WR Brian Williams Jr. flipped his commitment from Alabama to Auburn.
BREAKING: Class of 2026 WR Brian Williams has Flipped his Commitment from Alabama to Auburn, he tells me for @rivals⁰⁰The 6’4 200 WR had been Committed to the Crimson Tide since July⁰⁰“God has truly blessed me.”⁰https://t.co/xfGstpFRM1 pic.twitter.com/qWavVgwWfC
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) December 3, 2025
Williams committed to Alabama over the summer and was a pure upside swing for Kalen DeBoer and the Crimson Tide. Unfortunately, the Orlando, FL native didn't explode during his senior season like the Alabama coaching staff anticipated, and he became a low priority for the staff.
Williams had been trending away from Alabama for months. The expectation recently had been that Williams was going to flip to USF, a smaller group of six program that would give him a better chance of seeing the field.
But why go to a group of six program when you can instead sign with an SEC team that is masquerading as one?
Auburn became the favorite to land Williams as soon as Alex Golesh left USF to become the Tigers' head coach.
Brian Williams' flip to Auburn is inconsequential for Alabama
Williams has seen his recruiting ranking fall during his senior season, swinging in the opposite direction of what was expected by the Alabama staff, who have proven to be pretty good at evaluating talent. But Williams was a distant third in what was a three-man recruiting class at the position for the Tide.
The Florida native ranks as the No. 1051 overall prospect in the 247 composite and won't move the needle much for an Auburn class that ranks near the bottom of the SEC.
Alabama signed its top target in 5-star WR Cederian Morgan. The Tide remains in contention to potentially flip 4-star WR Samson Gash away from Michigan State, though his decision to pass on signing in the early period to wait for the spring makes it all the more likely he sticks with the Spartans.
Alabama will likely be in the market for another WR or two now that it looks like only one WR will sign with the Crimson Tide in the 2026 high school class.
Germie Bernard will exhaust his eligibility after the season, and junior WR Isaiah Horton could decide to test the NFL Draft waters. The Transfer Portal could come calling for a couple of backup receivers, too, such as Cole Adams and Jalen Hale.
If all four of those players leave, DeBoer and company won't have a choice but to go portal shopping in search of a contributor or two.