To the surprise of no one, bluechip recruits descended on Tiger Stadium by the dozens for Saturday night's instant classic between LSU and Alabama.

Guys came from as far away as California and North Carolina to see what LSU had to offer, and many big names saw their first game inside Death Valley. This stuff is old hat to defensive end Tim Williams (Baton Rouge, La./LSU Laboratory), however. The No. 28 player in the nation and the No. 4 defensive end for 2013 lives right up the road from campus, and his visit for the Alabama game was his fifth of this season alone.

So you know the atmosphere for the Tigers and Tide was no joke when Williams, who's as well-versed in the LSU experience as one can be, said it blew him away.

"That was my first time in Tiger Stadium when it was that loud in there," he said. "They were loud for South Carolina, but it wasn't Alabama-loud."

The passion on display from the record crowd 93,375 is the main thing Williams said recruits are looking for at a battle of top-10 teams. From the pregame festivities to the scintillating finish, he said it was hard not to get swept away in the moment. He added that it's something players can expect to see in either Baton Rouge or Tuscaloosa, Ala.

"You just want to see how the atmosphere is. That's why people get so excited to play for LSU and Alabama," he said. "I just thought about all that stuff. Like, if I were to decide to play for LSU, you just have to look at the fans. It's crazy."

Williams said he plans to be in attendance for both of LSU's two remaining home games, against Mississippi State and Ole Miss. His familiarity with the Tigers has yet to sway him, however. He still intends to take official visits to Alabama, Florida State and Miami when his season -- which is about to enter the playoffs -- concludes.