Weekend Recruiting Watch: Alabama recruits visiting elsewhere

Alabama had its final home game of the 2023 college football season against Chattanooga last weekend. The next wave of recruits will return for official and unofficial visits in December. Several Alabama targets and commitments will travel elsewhere this weekend for the final weekend of the regular season.

Below are key recruits to watch:

Ryan Williams, ’25 Five-Star Plus+ WR, Saraland (Ala.)

Williams returns to Auburn for his third visit to the Plains this season. The long-time Alabama commitment has continued to state he is “locked-in” with his decision. Auburn has hope of a flip from the No. 1 WR in the ’25 class.

Williams, however, has retuned to Tuscaloosa for six of the Tide’s seven home games including last weekend. He has been heavily recruiting others to join at Alabama, and he has given zero indication he is on ‘flip watch’ despite taking fall visits.

“I definitely continue to feel great about my commitment to Alabama,” Williams told BOL on Sunday. “Every time I go there it just feels like home. It feels the same. I am as confident about everything there as I am at home.

A few other ’25 Alabama commitments visiting Auburn this weekend: Zion Grady, Top 100 EDGE from Charles Henderson HS in Troy, and Antonio Coleman, four-star defensive lineman from Saraland HS.

Jeremiah Beaman, Top 100 DL, Parker HS in Birmingham

2024 Alabama DL commit Jeremiah Beaman.

The Alabama defensive line commitment is slated to return to Auburn this weekend. It is Beaman’s second visit with the Tigers this fall after taking an official visit in late September. He also took an unofficial visit to Colorado this season, and he is scheduled to return to Boulder in early December. Beaman took an official visit to Alabama in June.

Beaman has visited Alabama several times this year. The No. 5 recruit in the state, per On3 Sports, considers himself a solid commitment to Alabama. He has enjoyed the recruiting process/visits. Auburn recently added a commitment from Beaman’s teammate, ’25 DL Jourdin Crawford. It remains an uphill battle for the rival program to flip him away from Alabama. It is, however, a recruitment BOL will continue to monitor until the Early Signing Period (December 20-22).

“I feel like Coach (Freddie) Roach can help me a lot with my development,” Beaman recently told BamaOnLine about his future position coach. “The overall aspect of how he coaches… Coach Roach is a wonderful coach. I think Coach Roach can help me with things I need help with in my game. Even though I train seven days a week, I still have things to work on. I feel like he can help me with that.”

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Jameer Grimsley, Top 100 CB, Tampa (Fla.) Catholic

Jameer Grimsley during Alabama official visit.

Grimsley will take an unofficial visit to Florida this weekend for the game against FSU. Grimlsey grew up in a UF household. He committed to the University of Alabama in July, and returned to several home games this fall. Grimsley, despite growing up a fan of the Gators, has never been to a game in Gainesville.

This will mark the first visit elsewhere since his commitment. He is also scheduled to take an official visit to Florida on December 8-10. Grimsley took an official visit to Alabama in June. Florida has continued to push hard for Grimsley, but he says the commitment to the Tide remains strong.

“Same thing: It feels like home,” Grimsley told BOL after visiting Alabama in early November. “I feel like I can go there and be around my type of people. Looking forward to competing [there].”

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Zay Mincey, No. 2 CB, Mainland HS in Daytona Beach (Fla.)

2024 DB Zay Mincey with Alabama’s Travaris Robinson during a June visit to Bama.

Mincey will take an unofficial visit to Florida this weekend. He was in Miami last weekend for the loss to Louisville. Florida has been considered by most as the team to beat in Mincey’s recruitment. He will announce a final decision at the All-American Bowl on January 6.

Alabama has been in heavy pursuit of Mincey since earlier this year. He took an unofficial visit to Tuscaloosa in June, and returned on October 20-22 for an official visit. His family considered a return visit earlier this month, and now eyeing an unofficial at some point in December. Mincey’s brother, who plays for Alabama State, will join the family if the visit is scheduled. Alabama is considered the biggest threat to the Gators, though FSU and Miami are also in the mix.

“With us, it’s about vibes and feeling comfortable, and that’s why Alabama has been one of the top schools for us,” his mother, Jenece Giddens told BOL on Tuesday. It gave us that good feeling. That warm, fuzzy feeling inside. Everybody was very welcoming. Anytime I needed anything or wanted to know anything, all I have to do is make a phone call and somebody is answering my question with no problem.”

Daniel Hill, four-star RB, Meridian HS (Miss.)

Daniel Hill (Photo: Joseph Hastings | On3)

Hill will return to South Carolina this weekend. It is his first trip to Columbia this fall after postponing his decision which was originally set for August 23. The Gamecocks were considered the favorite prior to his scheduled announcement. The reason for the delay stemmed from his family wanting him to play closer to home and for the Crimson Tide.

Hill returned to Alabama for multiple games this season including Texas, Ole Miss, Tennessee and LSU. He has visited Tuscaloosa more than all other schools combined. He took an official visit to Tennessee in late September. The Vols are likely on the outside with Alabama and South Carolina still considered the top two.

Alabama has waited for months for Hill’s decision. The signs point Hill to South Carolina for a better opportunity to play early in his career. We may know an answer after this weekend.

Alabama continues to have a spot for Hill in its class, but has also focused on others including Kewan Lacy, Top 100 from Lancaster High School in Texas and Kevin Riley, Top 100 from Tuscaloosa County High School in Northport (Miami commitment). Both are slated for official visits to Alabama in December. BOL publisher Tim Watts provided a significant nugget on Lacy earlier this week- HERE

CLICK HERE to find out which recruits are currently scheduled to visit Alabama in December.

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