The Alabama Crimson Tide’s season was a disappointing one. However, freshman wide receiver Ryan Williams turned a lot of heads in his first year on the collegiate stage. Recently, he was honored for his standout performance in 2024 by making the FWAA’s Freshman All-American team.
Besides Williams, the other two freshman wide receivers selected by the FWAA were Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith and Clemson’s Bryant Wesco. So, there are a lot of discussions regarding Williams being the next WR superstar for the Tide. Can it happen?
Ryan Williams Ranks Among the Top Returning College Football Players
Williams covered almost 30% of Alabama’s receiving yards and 50% of the receiving touchdowns. The 17-year-old has definitely become a great asset for the Crimson Tide on quite short notice, and he was even placed in fourth place in On3’s Ari Wasserman’s ranking of top 10 players returning to college football.
Wasserman even gave reasons for placing Williams right behind Florida’s DJ Lagway and above Texas’ Colin Simmons.
NEW: Top 10 returning College Football players next season via @AriWasserman👀
Do you agree? 🤔https://t.co/c0Wiufirmp pic.twitter.com/8rG7GACJkS
— On3 (@On3sports) January 29, 2025
“At the beginning of the season last year, there was a debate about whether Williams or Smith was the best receiver in the country. What a year for true freshman wideouts, right? Though Smith wound up separating himself from the pack as the year went on, there is no losing sight of how sensational Williams is and how great he is going to be,” Wasserman wrote.
“He finished the year with 865 yards and 8 touchdowns, but his explosiveness is a natural talent that will show up for Alabama in big moments for the next two years. He’s must-watch television,”
Williams finished the season with 48 catches for 865 receiving yards and eight receiving TDs. Williams is one of five SEC players included in the list, and the highest rated among them is Lagway at No. 3. The one who’s placed last among the five SEC players is Texas’ Arch Manning at the No. 8 position.
Williams Receives Crucial Advice From Alabama’s Head Coach Ahead of 2025 Season
The Crimson Tide struggled post-Nick Saban in 2024. Now, current head coach Kalen DeBoer is looking to make a major comeback in the upcoming season. With that in mind, he wants Williams to take the charge in Year 2 with Alabama.
DeBoer knows that Williams holds high aspirations for himself, and it could prove beneficial for the entire team.
“Well, a year ago this time, we were pretty excited about the commitment, right, and that’s what it was, that he had made to come play football at Alabama,” DeBoer said on Tuesday at the Senior Bowl in Mobile.
“You got in the summer, and you’re like, ‘Wow, this is fun working with him.’ Then we saw what he can do in the season. I know he’s got much higher goals than what he accomplished this year, and that’s individually and as a team.”
The Crimson Tide head coach doesn’t only want Ryan Williams to play at his hundred percent on the field but also looks at him as the leading voice in the locker room for the team. He wants to harness his leadership qualities in his second year at Alabama.
KEEP READING: 2025 Heisman Trophy Candidates
“I’m really excited about him taking the next steps as a leader now,” he added. “He’s gonna take care of his business and do what he needs to do, and we’re gonna be there to help him refine the things that are gonna make him the best of the best. He’s a team player through and through; we saw that all season long.”
Now, even the head coach of the team is looking at Williams as the next flagbearer in the coming seasons for the Crimson Tide.
College Football Network has you covered with the latest from the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC, and every Group of Five conference and FBS Independent program.
