Scout.com > Football Recruiting Ming Bleeds Crimson Story URL: http://recruiting.scout.com/2/771306.html Steve Robertson SuperPrep.com Jul 22, 2008 One the southeast's top prospects, William Ming, is headed to Tuscaloosa for his college days. Ming made the call earlier today and committed to the Alabama Crimson Tide. William Ming drew interest from around the country drawing offers from Auburn, Georgia, LSU, Notre Dame Oklahoma, Tennessee and many more. Ming, a Scout.com four-star defensive end from Athens, has announced he will sign a football scholarship with Alabama in February. He is the ninth to publicly commit to the Crimson Tide. William Ming made national news earlier this year, and it had nothing to do with anything he did on the football field. It had to do with what he was able to do from the computer lab at Athens High School. A new NCAA rule, universally known as ³The Saban Rule² because it seems aimed at a hard-working recruiter like Alabama¹s Nick Saban, prohibits college head coaches from venturing out into high schools in the spring. In the past Saban would personally go to high schools during the spring evaluation period to meet with coaches and guidance counselors. Earlier this year Bama Assistant Coach Curt Cignetti was in Athens and learned that the school had a distance learning program. That meant Ming could go to a school computer and contact Saban, who was at a similar computer at his desk in Tuscaloosa. They were able to teleconference. "It was like they were face-to-face across Coach Saban¹s desk," Athens Coach Allen Creasy was reported to have said. The consensus at other schools around the nation was that Saban had won again. The NCAA said the teleconferencing was not against any rules. It was considered the same as a telephone call made from a prospect to a coach, and there are no limits on that activity. It was no surprise that Alabama would get Ming into the fold. The 6-4, 250-pound defensive end told 'BAMA Magazine last spring, "I grew up an Alabama fan. It has always been my dream to play there." Ming, who has been clocked at 4.7 in the 40-yard dash, was ranked the number six prospect in the state in the 'BAMA Football Yearbook. Although some believe he could play tight end on the next level college, most project him as a defensive end. He is also a fine baseball player. As a junior, Ming had 67 tackles with 17 for loss and also had five sacks and a fumble recovery. Stay with Scout.com with a full story complete with quotes and reaction from Alabama's newest commitment. Copyright © Scout.com and SuperPrep.com