Score one for the Wildcats. For the second straight season, Kentucky has flipped an Alabama defensive back who was previously committed to Missouri.

On Monday night, Dyllon Williams revealed that he is committed to the Kentucky Wildcats. In addition to Missouri, Williams was pursued by Ole Miss, Mississippi State, and Cincinnati. He decommitted from the Tigers last week.

A 6-foot-2 athlete from Demopolis, AL, Williams is a three-star safety in the 2024 recruiting class. According to the On3 Industry Ranking, he’s the No. 57 player at his position and No. 696 overall.

The Kentucky 2025 recruiting class, which is ranked just inside the Top 25 nationally, now has 19 commitments. The Cats have a pair of cornerbacks locked in and now two safeties. Williams joins Martels Carter, the Paducah Tilghman talent who’s the No. 15 safety in America and a Top-200 overall player.

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How Kentucky Landed the Hard-Hitting Safety

Williams took two official visits over the summer. Shortly after spending time with Scott Satterfield and Eli Drinkwitz, he pledged his allegiance to Missouri. Kentucky’s Frank Buffano continued to recruit the playmaker and eventually convinced Williams to make the trip to Lexington for an official visit. Even though he watched Kentucky play poorly against South Carolina, that performance ultimately didn’t seem to matter.

If this feels like deja vu all over again, you’re not going crazy.

During the 2024 recruiting cycle, Cam Dooley committed to Missouri following a summer official visit. Buffano convinced the lengthy Alabama athlete to visit Lexington for a game. The Cats chipped away until he ultimately flipped to Kentucky on signing day. In a limited role, the true freshman has performed well, making a tackle in the opening week to stop a Southern Miss fake punt attempt.

If you enjoy watching safeties throw their bodies at opponents, you will love watching Dyllon Williams play football. The two interceptions he caught last fall feel like a sideshow to the tackling production. Like most high-major safety recruits, he has some versatility in his game, lining up at various spots for Demopolis High School. He’s at his best when he can tee off on opponents. It is a joy watching him knock the daylights out of a wide receiver.

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