Find someone who believes in you. After an amazing first year at Alabama, star wide receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams pulled back after his freshman campaign. The proverbial sophomore slump got the best of him. After recording 48 catches for 865 yards and eight touchdowns as a true freshman in 2024, Coleman-Williams regressed in 2025. He had 49 catches for 689 yards and four touchdowns...
While some Alabama fans did turn on him a year ago, Kalen DeBoer is never going to give up on him.
"He’s doing the work behind the scenes. It’s silent right now because no one is really paying attention, and it’s summertime. The guy is grinding. He wants it bad. He’s the ultimate competitor."
He continued by saying how hard he is "rooting for this guy" when talking at the SEC Spring Meetings.
“I’m rooting for this guy. Anyone who knows him, anyone who follows us, is a supporter or fan of ours, needs to do the same. The guy is giving everything he has.”
Coleman-Williams is putting in the work in the weight room. He told Chris Low of On3 that "physically and mentally, [he is] in a lot better place. [We're] going to see [him] whole again." So a fully healthy and mentally strong Coleman-Williams should be great news to Alabama fans everywhere. He could be a reason whoever ends up winning the starting job between Austin Mack and Keelon Russell succeeds.
All the while, having your head coach go to bat for you like this is what any player would love to have.
Ryan Coleman-Williams is gearing up to validate Kalen DeBoer this year
If there is anything that we know for sure will happen within the context of the Alabama offense, it is that DeBoer will pick the right quarterback to lead the Crimson Tide out of the tunnel. He did that with Jalen Milroe two years ago, and with Ty Simpson last fall. He had tremendous success with Michael Penix Jr. over a two-year span at Washington. Why would he not do the same with Mack or Russell?
What will be important is for Coleman-Williams to take his game up a notch, preferably to a more consistent level. Since he no longer has Germie Bernard in his position group, the onus largely falls on him now. How either Mack or Russell progress will have a lot to do with the rapport they develop with Coleman-Williams as WR1 in this Alabama receiving corps. Together, they can all achieve greatness.
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The most important thing here is Coleman-Williams is DeBoer's guy. The talent is undeniably there. The consistency, well, that is a different story... Coleman-Williams has to become way more reliable as a pass catcher. By putting in the work in the weight room to build up his body, he could double his receptions total from a year ago, if he stays healthy, and plays in 13-plus games for the Crimson Tide.
At this time, we have to believe that DeBoer and Coleman-Williams are better together for this team.
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