Alabama Football: Gauging Ryan Williams’ impact on 2024 offense

Alabama Football wide receiver commit Ryan Williams might be the most electric player in all of high school football, and the in-state product out of Saraland will be in T-Town sooner rather than later.

The top wideout in the 2025 recruiting class, Williams announced his reclassification to the 2024 cycle yesterday and is expected to be on campus next fall.

So what does Ryan Williams bring to the Alabama Football offense?

Williams has long been regarded as an instant-impact player. While he is slight of build, his speed, instincts, and open-field playmaking ability will make him dangerous on an SEC field from day one. However, competition will be stiff in the Alabama receiver room, and Williams will have to earn every snap he gets.

Senior Jermaine Burton, who leads the Tide with 777 receiving yards and eight touchdowns, could return but is expected to head to the NFL. Junior Ja’Corey Brooks chose to enter the transfer portal after an underwhelming year three. Bama could experience more outgoing transfers in this position room, but all of its major contributors should be back.

Isaiah Bond figures to be WR1 in his draft-eligible junior season. Bond, who currently leads Alabama with 44 receptions, is a proven playmaker with a clutch gene. Classmate Kendrick Law has also found a place in Tommy Rees’ offense in his sophomore campaign. A physical receiver who can run, catch, and block, Law has been deployed all over the field by Rees. He is effective as a slot receiver, in the backfield as an H-back or running back, and has shined on gadget plays. Law should have a much bigger and more defined role in 2024.

Behind Isaiah Bond and Kendrick Law, the receiver rotation is a little more difficult to project. This is where Ryan Williams could potentially factor in.

Kobe Prentice has been a reliable possession receiver for the Tide, notching 48 receptions over the past two years. Malik Benson received a lot of hype as the top JUCO recruit in the country last offseason. He wasn’t an impact performer in 2023, but should be back for year two at the Capstone. True freshman Jalen Hale has shown flashes of future stardom this fall, but it remains to be seen how much his role will grow next season.

Ryan Williams probably factors in amongst this group, and should be very competitive in the rotation. His penchant for making big plays and his ability after the catch rival those of anyone currently in the room.

Many have expressed concern over Williams’ size, but I highly doubt it will be a limitation for the 5-star receiver. Williams will add weight as necessary in the Alabama Football strength and conditioning program. Much like former Bama standout Devonta Smith, Williams plays with the uncanny instinctual ability to protect himself and avoid big hits.

Ryan Williams could very well be one of the Crimson Tide’s top receivers this season. At the very least, I see him having a situational role in the receiver rotation. He is a good enough athlete that Tommy Rees may design plays specifically to get him touches in the open field. Alabama could even choose to utilize Williams as a kick returner, assuming he is dependable and confident in doing so.

With Jalen Milroe presumably back in the fold, this offense for Alabama Football could be efficient and explosive in 2024.

A unit that is not lacking in skill position talent may have just added its most dangerous weapon in 5-star receiver Ryan Williams, and I can’t wait to see what his role looks like in year one.