Alabama wide receiver Ryan Williams broke onto the scene early last year, emerging as the best freshman in the country, before Jeremiah Smith stormed past and took that spot from him.
Williams’ signature play, a 75-yard touchdown with a spin move that brought TikTok editors millions of views to beat Georgia in the final seconds after the Tide blew a 28-0 home lead, came in September, a month he dominated.
Is Ryan Williams Ready To Take Back The Top Receiver In The Country Mantle?
ESPN’s Adam Rittenberger broke down the best non-quarterbacks in the country, and while he crowned Smith “the nation’s best player at his position [and] a bona fide Heisman Trophy contender,” Williams cut as well.
From earlier: My look at 25 non-QB playmakers to watch around college football this coming season, after surveying coaches and others around the sport. https://t.co/40yULI1A7I
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) May 20, 2025
Williams scored a touchdown in his first five games, averaging 28.6 yards per reception. But teams started to figure him out after an eight-reception, 73-yard, and one-touchdown performance against Tennessee on Oct. 19.
Williams finished the year with 48 receptions, 865 yards, and eight touchdowns, led by his season-high performance of six receptions, 177 yards, and a touchdown game against the Bulldogs. Williams also racked up 139 yards and two touchdowns on just two receptions in the season opener against Western Kentucky, his only other performance above 100 yards.
But when the Tide started to struggle, so did Williams, notably being held to only two receptions and 37 yards in a 24-3 drubbing at Oklahoma on Nov. 23. Williams was also notably quiet in Alabama’s wins over LSU — two receptions for 29 yards — and Auburn — four receptions for 53 yards. In the Reliaquest Bowl against Michigan, he totaled three receptions for only eight yards.
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Williams earned first-team All-SEC honors despite the struggles and was a freshman All-America selection. He finished fourth in the SEC in receiving touchdowns and was a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award.
“Shoot, he just explodes to the ball with his hands,” an SEC coach told Rittenberger. “He can do it vertically, or he can do it yards after catch. He’s really good either way.”
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