Ryan Williams wasted little time establishing himself as one of the top wide receivers in college football during a freshman season in which he was just 17 years old. Williams scored touchdowns on his first two touches of the 2024 season, scored a spectacular game-winner against Georgia a few weeks later, and enjoyed a strong start to his Alabama career.
Now, with a full offseason of work, all eyes are on what he has in store for an encore.
Williams is one of the most talented players in the country, with the ability to be every bit as impactful as Jeremiah Smith is and was for Ohio State, especially now that he has the extra year of development that Smith had last season.
Aiding in the cause of the former 5-star talent is a 5-star work ethic, according to head coach Kalen DeBoer, who raved about his star sophomore WR at SEC Media Days on Wednesday.
“I’m excited about the way he’s attacked it," DeBoer said to the SEC Radio Network to answer a question about Williams' work ethic this offseason. “The month of May, a lot of guys, a lot of our team, that’s the one chance they can go home. He stayed. He stayed in Tuscaloosa. He wants to get stronger, he’s gotten stronger. He wants to be more durable for the long haul, and he played all season long, but there’s football injuries and dings that you have for a freshman that wears more on you than when your body is built up from years of training."
Alabama needs Ryan Williams healthy and productive
Williams produced 48 catches for 865 yards and eight touchdowns during his freshman season, but his production tailed off down the stretch of the year. After an 8-catch, 73-yard day in a loss to Tennessee in the middle of October, Williams never eclipsed 53 receiving yards or caught more than four passes in a game the rest of the season.
Some of that can be chalked up to the passing game struggles as a whole, but part of it, too, was Williams hitting the inevitable freshman wall. It's a wall he hopes to kick down as a sophomore, and he's put in the work this offseason to ensure it.
"Physically, he’s bigger, he’ll continue to get faster," DeBoer said. "He’s got good consistency, just making every easy catch all the time. He’s got a high ceiling, he comes down with the crazy ones as well, as we saw.”
Williams has more help surrounding him at WR this year, which Alabama will use to make defenses pay who key in too much on Williams. Germie Bernard returns, and Alabama added Miami (FL) transfer Isaiah Horton to give the offense the legitimate third option at WR it was missing a year ago. There's been plenty of offseason buzz about second-year WR Rico Scott and true freshman Lotzeir Brooks, too, both of whom have a chance to contribute.
If those guys can get going, it'll open things up even more for Williams, who should be among the best players in the country.