A year is an eternity in college football. Nick Saban’s retirement was bound to cause a seismic shift in the sport as a collective. Even after an entire year, aftershocks are still reverberating across the epicenter, Tuscaloosa. The problem for the Crimson Tide is that the shocks aren’t quite dissipating- in fact, they’re tearing up the foundation. The house that Saban built is standing rather precariously under the tenancy of Kalen DeBoer if activity in the transfer portal is anything to go by.

In a development that’s equal parts baffling and troubling, a mass exodus has ensued at Alabama. A plethora of big-timers on their roster have entered the portal seeking to take their talents elsewhere. At the forefront are a pair of former 5-star recruits, RB Justice Haynes and Jaylen Mbakwe. This has inadvertently raised concern within the fanbase and beyond. In fact, it’s also instigated a notion that 17-year-old true freshman sensation Ryan Williams may be next in line. This is already a far-fetched trail of thought, but what has stemmed from this is pretty sensationalist.

In more ways than one, the Nick Saban-shaped void in CFB is now filled by Bill Belichick. The latest escapade in his fabled career sees him as the UNC Tar Heels’ head coach. Belichick has naturally tagged along a ton of firepower in terms of NIL. This has led to widespread discourse about what players North Carolina will onboard via the portal. The rumor mill has been working double-time and has spewed out Arch Manning’s name.

With the ongoing exodus out of Alabama, people have rushed to suggest a reincarnation of the Tom Brady-Randy Moss tandem could be on the cards. Arch Manning and Ryan Williams, together, under the tutelage of the great Bill Belichick. As hyperbolic and outrageous as this scenario is, it’s not implausible in the NIL and transfer portal era we’re traversing. 

Arch Manning stands to be QB1 in Texas after deputizing Quinn Ewers, who’s declared for the NFL Draft. Ryan Williams, meanwhile, is already a bonafide star. Steve Sarkisian and Kalen DeBoer will do everything and more to avoid anything from swaying the heads of their respective stars. For now, the voices lobbying for this the loudest are those on social media.

CFB sphere wants Ryan Williams to join forces with Bill Belichick

Over on X, formerly Twitter, one fan asked the question, “Will Ryan Williams be the first 17-year-old to transfer?” alongside a graphic depicting Williams. Fans of all different persuasions flooded this aforementioned post. One person wrote, “Come to UNC with Belichick.” This was iterated by another person rooting for UNC to lure him. “That’s a Tar Heel,” they said.

“The Portal is wild…bring him to Carolina,” said another fan. The portal affords a school like UNC, more well-known for its prowess on the hardcourt than the gridiron, an opportunity to speed-run to the upper echelons. What Deion Sanders has achieved in two seasons at Colorado stands as a testament. Another fan urged Belichick, saying, “Alright, Bill, this is the time. Let’s go!!”

Interestingly, a few Texas fans also chimed in. They, too, wish to have Arch Manning connecting with Ryan Williams for dots, but in Austin. “Arch to Ryan Will be 🔥 next season 🤟🐂” and “Go play with Manning 🙌” echoed this sentiment. In all likelihood, Kalen DeBoer will be able to keep hold of Ryan Williams. Although the newfound light gleaming over from North Carolina does cast a shadow over the CFB landscape. Even the fabled Alabama Crimson Tide aren’t excluded.