After breaking out as a superstar in his true freshman season for Alabama at just 17-years-old, Ryan Williams had a disappointing 2025 season. It was far from the encore he hoped for, with inconsistent hands and a few lingering injuries causing him to be nowhere near as effective a playmaker as he was in his debut season.
His numbers were down across the board. He caught one more pass (49) as a sophomore, but for 174 fewer yards (689) and four fewer touchdowns (4). The biggest issue was 10 drops, which was one of the highest totals in college football last season.
Williams did show sparks here and there. He had 165 yards and two touchdowns in Alabama's win over Wisconsin in September. He had 98 yards and a touchdown in the win over Vanderbilt a few weeks later. He was one of the few bright spots in the Tide's SEC Championship loss to Georgia, and he made some tough catches during a difficult afternoon for the whole team at the Rose Bowl.
And best of all, Williams is Alabama to the core. Despite his struggles - and despite what would be some ridiculous NIL offers - he never even entertained jumping into the Transfer Portal.
He's faced a lot of criticism from Crimson Tide fans, but Williams' loyalty in this era of college football deserves to be celebrated. And a monster season could be on the horizon for the rising junior.
Former Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram certainly expects it:
Former Heisman trophy winner Mark Ingram explains why he ‘knows’ a breakout season is ahead for Ryan Williams in 2026. 👀
— Touchdown Alabama (@TDAlabamaMag) March 3, 2026
via: @glorydazepod https://t.co/PerbpkpvFH pic.twitter.com/7EdHcCgeXV
Mark Ingram expects a big year for Ryan Williams in 2026
If Ingram is "King Gump", then Williams is at least the Prince. No former player - and no current player - better embody what it means to play for Alabama than those two. You can tell how much it means to each one of them.
Ingram has his own media career, but is never shy about repping his alma mater. Williams had every offer in the country and all the sharks circling after Nick Saban's retirement, but chose to come to Alabama anyway two years ago when so many others abandoned ship.
Williams will be remembered for that a lot more than he'll be remembered for the same sophomore slump that so many great Alabama WRs went through during their careers.
And if Williams follows in the footsteps of the likes of Julio Jones, Amari Cooper, and Calvin Ridley, the Crimson Tide receiver is going to have a massive rebound in 2026 and reassert himself as one of the top players in the nation.