All Ryan Williams wanted to do was to check his options.
The Alabama football star freshman wide receiver initially ended his commitment to the Crimson Tide hours after coach Nick Saban announced his retirement from the program and days after wide receivers coach Holmon Wiggins left for Texas A&M.
But Williams said it didn't take long for DeBoer and the new Alabama coaching staff to make an impact.
"It was just a matter of making sure," Williams said. "But as soon as they stepped off the plane, I was basically getting a phone call. They were on the trail extremely hard from the jump. It made me more comfortable and that Alabama, that's where home (is)."
Williams committed to DeBoer and Alabama Jan. 24, two weeks after his initial decommitment.
Little did DeBoer and his staff know that they had already made an impact on Williams well before they hopped off the plane in Tuscaloosa.
Williams said he remembered watching DeBoer's offense in Washington's 37-31 win against Texas in the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Sugar Bowl. He saw quarterback Michael Penix Jr. spread 430 passing yards to six different receivers including Rome Odunze , Ja'Lynn Polk and Germie Bernard , his future teammate at Alabama.
Williams, who was watching with Saraland High School football coach Jeff Kelly, said Kelly made the connection of DeBoer to South Alabama head coach Kane Wommack, who would eventually join DeBoer's staff as defensive coordinator.
But in that CFP semifinal game, Williams said he saw an offense he could work with.
"We watched that entire game and I was like, 'Their offense is so explosive,'" Williams aid. "'It'll be crazy if I play for something like that.' Next thing you know, I'm here."
Through three games, Williams leads Alabama with 10 catches for 285 yards and four touchdowns.
After its off week, Alabama will face Georgia at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 28 at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at cgay@gannett.com or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ryan Williams sold on Kalen DeBoer before Alabama football hire
