Alternate reality where Auburn football lands Ryan Williams, Jordan Seaton shared by analyst
The Sporting News's Bill Bender believes Deion Sanders being hired by Auburn football in 2022 would've formed an alternate reality where the Tigers flip Ryan Williams from Alabama and land Jordan Seaton's commitment for their 2024 recruiting class.
"Five-star receiver Ryan Williams – from Saraland (Ala.) High School – flips from Alabama to Auburn. Sanders now has a receiving corps that features Hunter, Horn, Coleman and Williams. Sanders then convinces five-star tackle Jordan Seaton from IMG Academy to come to Auburn. There are some defections in the transfer portal, but it's not nearly as severe as the roster turnover at Alabama," Bender wrote.
Williams had a strong interest in Auburn during his recruitment process but stuck with the Crimson Tide after Kalen DeBoer replaced Nick Saban. There's a case to be made that Coach Prime would've been enticing enough to pull Williams to join fellow star in-state 2024 WRs Cam Coleman, Malcolm Simmons, Perry Thompson, and Bryce Cain, affectionately known these days as the "Freeze Four." You wonder if Sanders would've even pursued the whole "Freeze Four" and instead would've gunned for more talent from Florida given the proximity.
As for Seaton, he undoubtedly would've chosen Coach Prime and Shedeur Sanders wherever they were. It was Sanders' message that Seaton bought into, not the University of Colorado Boulder.
There's no guarantee Deion Sanders would've had Auburn football in the same position Colorado is in now
Just because Colorado is 7-2 with Shedeur and Travis Hunter in the Big 12 during the 2024 season, doesn't mean AU would be in the same spot in the SEC.
Sure, anyone would take AU with Shedeur under center over Vanderbilt, Cal, and Arkansas this season. But the Tigers would still not be the team to beat in a conference with Texas, Georgia, and, I'll say it, Ole Miss in 2024 in this alternate universe.
Check back a year from now. The transfer portal-heavy Buffs may have suffered an FSU-like fall. And Auburn may have figured it out under Hugh Freeze.