Latest news with #Ex-Alabama
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ryan Williams Sends Message to Alabama's Latest 5-Star Commit
Ryan Williams Sends Message to Alabama's Latest 5-Star Commit originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Alabama star wideout Ryan Williams is the face of the Crimson Tide. The freshman All-American is coming off a special true freshman season, and the 18-year-old receiver will be looking to do even more for the program in 2025. Advertisement Being such a significant part of Alabama's offensive success last season means Williams is taking on a more prominent role as a team leader. The responsibilities that come with that role mean Williams must be more vocal. The first-team All-SEC pass-catcher did just that on Wednesday by commenting on a social media post that announced an Alabama commitment from five-star wide receiver Cederian Morgan, the nation's No. 2 wide receiver from the 2026 cycle. "@_cederiann.1 🐘🐘🐘," read Williams' comment that received over 110 likes. Morgan is the 15th-ranked player in the country and the top player from Alabama. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound receiver chose the Crimson Tide over offers from Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Colorado and more. Advertisement Alabama has the sixth-ranked class for 2026 and has four five-star commitments: Morgan, cornerback Jorden Edmonds, linebacker Xavier Griffin and running back Ezavier Crowell. No team has more than two five-star commitments thus far. Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Ryan Williams (2).Will McLelland-Imagn Images In 2025, Alabama finished third in On3's 2025 team recruiting rankings. While the Crimson Tide's offense will be led by Williams, Alabama has yet to name a starting quarterback. Head coach Kalen DeBoer has more or less left the quarterback competition wide open this offseason. Ty Simpson, who was a recent camp counselor at the Manning Passing Academy, is the rumored favorite to start this fall, but Keelon Russell and Austin Mack are both candidates as well. Advertisement Related: Alabama QB Taps Into Tom Brady's Secret to Greatness Related: Ex-Alabama QB Issues Blunt Warning to Ryan Grubb Before 2025 Season This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Big Ten Coach Put in the Same League as Nick Saban by Ex-Alabama Running Back
Big Ten Coach Put in the Same League as Nick Saban by Ex-Alabama Running Back originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Michigan Wolverines transfer Justice Haynes has already played under Nick Saban and now sees some similar traits in Sherrone Moore's coaching style. Advertisement The 20-year-old halfback played two seasons with the Alabama Crimson Tide from 2023-24. In his freshman and lone season under Saban he rushed for 168 yards and two touchdowns. In his sophomore season following Saban's retirement and under new coach Kalen DeBoer, Haynes improved by recording 448 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. Haynes added 99 receiving yards out of the backfield. He announced his transfer to Michigan on Jan. 3 as the transfer portal's No. 1 halfback and has been in the midst of the Wolverines training camp, where drew comparisons between Saban and Moore during an interview. 'He reminds me of a young coach Saban in a lot of ways,' Haynes told On3 reporter Peter Nakos on Thursday. 'He's going to kick it with you. He's going to have fun with you, but then there is also a time to be serious and a time to be disciplined.' Advertisement Saban was well known for prioritizing discipline and preparation throughout training, and it seems Moore does the same. 'Everything is discipline-oriented around there,' Haynes added. 'We train differently from anyone else in the country. We work harder than anyone in the country, and we're all about running the ball and stopping the run.' Michigan Wolverines running back Justice Haynes (22).Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Moore's team revolves around developing a strong run defense and rushing offense. Last season, the Wolverines went 8-5 and took down fellow powerhouses Ohio State (13-10) on Nov. 30 and Alabama (19-13) in the ReliaQuest Bowl on Dec. 31. Michigan's running back room rushed for a combined total of 2,043 yards and 18 touchdowns last season. Meanwhile, their rushing defense recorded 744 total tackles and 460 solo tackles. Advertisement 'That's what we pride ourselves on, and that's what led to my decision,' Haynes continued. Michigan Wolverines head football coach Sherrone Moore.© Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images Heading into the upcoming season, the Wolverines are expected to have a solid year, with Haynes taking carries out of the backfield to help the offense reach new heights. 'I knew they were going to value the running back position, and I knew I could thrive in the offense,' he concluded. Michigan opens its season against the New Mexico Lobos on Aug. 30 inside Michigan Stadium. Related: Michigan Takes Subtle Dig at Ohio State With Bryce Underwood in Latest Social Media Post This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 12, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ryan Grubb Names the Front-Runner for Starting Quarterback Position Without Hesitation
Ryan Grubb Names the Front-Runner for Starting Quarterback Position Without Hesitation originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Kalen DeBoer-led Alabama Crimson Tide might have found their new starting quarterback following Jalen Milroe's departure. Advertisement Milroe, 22, played four seasons in Tuscaloosa and started under center from 2023-24. In his senior season, he passed for 2,844 yards and 16 touchdowns to 11 interceptions. He also rushed for 726 yards and 20 touchdowns before declaring for April's NFL draft and being selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the third round with the 92nd overall pick. With Milroe gone, DeBoer has initiated a three-way quarterback battle to determine the next starter. The contestants are redshirt junior Ty Simpson, freshman Austin Mack and incoming freshman and 5-star recruit Keelon Russell. Following a grueling period of training and evaluations, offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb and DeBoer named the current frontrunner. 'Ty took care of the football better,' Grubb said. 'He operated better. I thought he improved as an older quarterback, especially towards the latter part of the spring, when he started to show more of those characteristics.' Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson is in a competitive battle for the starting McLelland-Imagn Images However, Grubb said the competition is far from over, and they plan to continue evaluating them throughout the summer. Advertisement 'We'll track every part of that with the guys and be very upfront in our communication with the guys,' he continued. Heading into this season, the Crimson Tide could be in a good position to succeed if Grubb and DeBoer continue the relationship they've had since leading the Washington Huskies to the 2023 National Championship game and a 15-1 record. Furthermore, Alabama has high expectations with the new regime in place, with some believing they are a top-10 team entering the season. Related: Big Ten Coach Put in the Same League as Nick Saban by Ex-Alabama Running Back This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 13, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ex-Alabama QB Issues Blunt Warning to Ryan Grubb Before 2025 Season
Ex-Alabama QB Issues Blunt Warning to Ryan Grubb Before 2025 Season originally appeared on Athlon Sports. After just one season as the Alabama Crimson Tide offensive coordinator in 2024, Nick Sheridan was demoted on paper to the team's co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. In his place, Alabama brought in Ryan Grubb, who was the Seattle Seahawks' OC last year, but has a long-standing relationship with Bama head coach Kalen DeBoer. Advertisement Grubb was part of the coaching staff with DeBoer during their shared tenures at Washington, Fresno State, Eastern Michigan and Sioux Falls, which goes back to 2007. College football analysts believe Alabama's offense will take a step forward in 2025, and some might conclude that Grubb is a better coordinator than Sheridan. However, former Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron disagreed with such a stance while speaking with Chris Stewart and Trent Richardson on "The Dynasty." "Whenever you're the OC at Alabama," McCarron began. "You're going to catch hell, regardless. If you don't put up 35 to 50 points every game, it is what it is. ... I was with multiple OCs during my career at Alabama. It comes with the territory." Advertisement Last season, Alabama fell short of the program's high expectations in both its passing and rushing offense. The Crimson Tide ranked 56th in passing offense (236.4 yards per game) and 47th in rushing offense (173.8 ypg). Alabama scored 34.5 points per game, 21st in college football. While that's certainly a very good result, it's not quite good enough for a college football powerhouse that wants to be competing for national championships annually. Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer (left), offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb (right)© Gary Cosby Jr.-Tuscaloosa News / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images "I think the comfort level between Kalen (DeBoer) and Ryan Grubb probably settles him down as the head coach of this team. Just knowing what Ryan Grubb likes in certain situations." Advertisement Retaining Sheridan wasn't a given after Grubb was brought in. It only came with a later announcement that Sheridan would stay with the coaching staff and focus on quarterbacks. Sheridan was linked with DeBoer during their stints at the University of Indiana in 2019 when the former was the tight ends coach and the latter was the Hoosiers' quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator. McCarron makes it clear, even with all these relationships in play, results matter in Tuscaloosa. So, DeBoer, Grubb, Sheridan and the rest of the Crimson Tide staff must deliver offensively. In 2024, Alabama failed to qualify for the College Football Playoff and missing out on it again this season could put not just the coordinators on the heat seat, but DeBoer as well. Advertisement Related: Ryan Williams Reveals Conversation With Jeremiah Smith During College Football 26 Cover Shoot Related: Kirby Smart, Georgia Reportedly Made a Move To Steal 5-Star WR Away From Alabama This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 3, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Former top Alabama commitment officially signs with Big Ten program
A former Alabama Crimson Tide football commit, highly-touted offensive lineman prospect Ty Haywood has now officially made his final recruitment decision by both committing to, and signing with, the Michigan Wolverines on National Signing Day on Wednesday. Haywood was the highest-ranked recruit still uncommitted in the 2025 recruiting class, one who announced his decommittment from Alabama back on Jan. 13. Prior to that, Haywood has previously been committed to the Crimson Tide since July of 2024. According to the 247Sports Composite recruiting rankings, Haywood ranks as the nation's No. 39 overall player in the cycle, as well as the No. 6 offensive tackle. Haywood, a highly-rated four-star prospect, is also ranked as the No. 10 overall player in the state of Texas where he attends Ryan High School. With the now commitment of Haywood to Michigan, the news surrounding Alabama's 2025 recruiting class is likely now officially complete, as nothing else is currently expected to take place on National Signing Day. The Crimson Tide's 2025 class ends the cycle with 21 total commitments, which is a top five class in the nation. BREAKING: Elite 2025 OT Ty Haywood has Committed to Michigan, he tells me for @on3recruitsThe 6'6 310 OT from Denton, TX was previously Committed to Alabama'Go BlueHO〽️E' — Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) February 5, 2025 This article originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire: Ex-Alabama commit Ty Haywood signs with Michigan on Signing Day
