6-2! This season has not been easy for the Alabama Crimson Tide with the new head coach. After losing two games in three weeks, they were in danger. Head coach Kalen DeBoer’s hopes for the playoffs were blurry. But they bounced back and how? 34-0 victory against Missouri! Did you see that coming? After losing to Vanderbilt, things were not going in their favor. But now they are on the right track.

Kalen DeBoer is fortunate to have top athletes in his squad. For example, Ryan Williams, a talented wide receiver, is making headlines with his impressive performance. Interestingly, Williams initially committed to Alabama but decommitted after legendary coach Nick Saban announced his retirement. Following DeBoer’s arrival at Alabama on January 12, he successfully recruited Williams again. Securing Williams’ recommitment is a significant achievement for DeBoer. However, the question remains: how long will Ryan Williams stay committed to Alabama?

Since Kalen DeBoer joined Alabama, he has seen many ups and downs. Media outlets, football insiders, and analysts have questioned his leadership qualities. The Twitter account of Cover Crimson shared a video highlighting DeBoer’s future as the head coach of Alabama, which is clouded with uncertainty following the recruiting process for the new season. Insider Mike Johnson shed light on the same and emphasized player retention. While the season is heating up, the question of whether top recruits like Ryan Williams will remain with their programs for a long time is increasingly relevant. We all know DeBoer has many young talents in his squad, but there is a growing concern about player retention. “I think roster retention this off season, no matter how this season finishes for Kalen DeBoer roster, retention added into the elite recruiting you’re doing right now is going to tell me everything I need to know about Kalen DeBoer because college football, to me, is going to become less about coaching, all right.”

He further emphasized DeBoer’s awareness of the pressures associated with coaching in a high-stakes environment, where player loyalty can be a big question, and asked some important questions like, “Is Ryan Williams going to stick around for the length of Ryan Williams career? How long can I keep these guys in my system so that they become comfortable with what’s the longevity of a lot of these players? And so I get questions all the time, Kalen DeBoer, Kalen DeBoer, you know, this system, that system x is at o’s and what like, that’s not going to tell the future to me. The Future Me is going to be; how comfortable can they get this year, which I think they are? I think everybody’s learning on the job. That includes Kalen DeBoer. How many years has Kalen DeBoer been a head coach in Division One? and never in the SEC. So he’s learning on the job too.”

The wide receiver has made a significant impact this season on the field; he recorded 35 receptions for 702 yards and scored seven touchdowns in eight games. Did you see him play against their big rivals, the Georgia Bulldogs? He was a beast! He stepped in at the right time, scored the game-winning touchdown, and completed 177 yards on six catches. This speaks a lot about his form and him as a player. Will he stay with Alabama for the new season? Till then, let’s look at his off-field achievements.

Ryan Williams growing NIL deal

Ryan Williams took no time to make a name for himself as one of the top freshmen in the NCAA. He is shining this season. Can you believe he is just 17 years old? Everyone wants him on their team. And why not? He has lived up to the hype that surrounded him during his recruitment. After helping Alabama win over Missouri, he has signed a NIL deal with Uber Eats.

This tells a lot about his popularity. Ryan Williams has an On3 NIL valuation of $1.7 million. It is huge! We repeat, he is just 17. His NIL valuation of $1.7 million makes him ninth among college football players. Currently, he stands at 18th rank on the On3 NIL 100 list. As we all know, DeBoer has great players on his team. Jalen Milroe is one of them, and he has a higher NIL valuation than Williams. But that does make Williams smaller or less successful. His performance this season is talking for him. Right now they are enjoying their bye week but will they maintain a positive and winning attitude toward LSU? Time will tell.