Ryan Williams has next - and now - for Alabama Football

Even the most ardent supporters of Alabama Football expected there to be a transition period for true freshman WR Ryan Williams, a two-time Mr. Football winner in the state of Alabama at Saraland High School. After all, Williams is a 17-year-old freshman who should be enjoying his senior season of hgh school (that he isn't likely thrills high school coaches in the state).

We all knew it was only a matter of time before Hollywood made his presence felt in Tuscaloosa. He was a consensus five-star recruit and simply too talented to keep off the field for long. But the game is faster at this level, and the defenders are bigger and more physical. And yet, none of that has mattered for Williams two games into what should be an illustrious career in Crimson.

Instead, any thought of a transition period for William was quickly put to rest when he lined up at WR for Alabama's first snap of the season; he'd already earned a starting spot at Alabama when he can't even vote in the Presidential election in November.

Through two games, Williams has caught six passes for 207 yards and three touchdowns. He caught two passes in the season opener against Western Kentucky, turning those touches into 139 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

While his statline wasn't as gaudy against USF, Williams was the Tide's leading receiver again, catching four passes for 68-yards, and scoring the touchdown that finally gave Alabama some breathing room against an opponent most Tide fans would prefer to never see on the schedule again.

It's clear that Williams has earned the trust of the coaching staff and star QB Jalen Milroe alike. Alabama drew up several shot plays for Williams throughout the game, and while they didn't hit on any of the deep throws, Williams did draw a couple of pass-interference penalties that helped move the ball for a Tide offense that spent most of the evening stuck in neutral.

Alabama has a long history of elite wide receivers, particularly in the Nick Saban era. Julio Jones was one of the best players in the country from the moment he stepped onto the field for the Tide in 2008. Amari Cooper emerged as the season went on in 2012 and asserted himself as the No. 1 option on a National Title team as a freshman. Calvin Ridley did the same thing in 2015. DeVonta Smith caught the game-winning touchdown pass in the national title game as a freshman before going on to have one of the most prolific seasons in the history of the sport for a wide receiver in 2020, culminating in winning the Heisman Trophy.

That's the company that Ryan Williams is forcing himself into. There will be some growing pains to come, but the kid looks unflappable two weeks into the season. The poise he displayed to secure the catch, make a move, and break a tackle to score a 43-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter of a tight game speaks volumes of his maturity. A lot of young players - and even veterans - are tight in late-game situations because they are afraid of making the mistake that could cost their team the game.

Williams has the it-factor that can turn him from a special talent into one of the best receivers in college football in short time.