Amaris Williams has gone back and forth since Auburn's season ended. The talented edge rusher announced his intention to transfer on Monday. However, Williams reversed course on Tuesday and announced his decision to stay at Auburn instead of exploring the portal after all.
"God said it's gon be alright," said the defender about his decision to stay with the Tigers.
Williams was a true freshman in 2024. In his debut collegiate season, the edge rusher collected 7 tackles and 0.5 sacks. That half sack and 2 of the tackles came against UL Monroe, which was Williams' best game of the season.
Before going to Auburn, Williams starred for Clinton High School in Clinton, NC. Williams was rated as a 4-star prospect and the 247Sports Composite ranking had the defender as the No. 6 edge rusher and No. 1 player out of North Carolina in the 2024 class. The Tigers beat out Ohio State, Florida, and Penn State, among others, for Williams' services.
Keeping Williams in town is huge for the Tigers. The team has seen 14 players enter the portal already, including Walker White and Caleb Burton III. Meanwhile, the team has added 8 players via the portal, most notably QBs Jackson Arnold and Ashton Daniels.
The Tigers finished the 2024 season with a 5-7 record, narrowly missing a bowl game. Now, the Tigers are looking to retool and prepare to make a run in the 2025 season with a new QB. Keeping players like Williams around will be crucial if the team hopes to compete again.