Ryan Williams #2 of the Alabama Crimson (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Ryan Williams has already proven he’s one of the best receivers in college football. With his first season under his belt, he’s looking to “conquer” as he enters his sophomore season.
The Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver turned in a prolific campaign during his first year in Tuscaloosa, posting 48 catches for 865 yards and eight touchdowns. Those numbers earned him Freshman All-American and First-Team All-SEC honors.
Even more impressive is that Williams achieved these accolades at the age of 17. In fact, he didn’t arrive on campus until after spring practice due to reclassifying from the Class of 2025 to the Class of 2024.
Championship Aspirations
“I always put the team first, just because I wouldn’t be here without them,” Williams says in a one-on-one interview with RG Media. “We got to go get that ring, just because I watched my guys work so hard, from winter to now. I know they’re going to continue to do that, just because that’s the culture, that’s the standard around here.”
The Crimson Tide endured a difficult season last year—their first without longtime head coach Nick Saban. Saban had built Alabama into the most dominant college football program over the past two decades, winning six National Championships. Remarkably, during Saban’s last 13 seasons, Alabama never had more than two losses in a year.
However, the team finished 9-4 last season and lost their bowl game. Williams emphasizes his determination to help the Crimson Tide get back to their winning ways, repeatedly expressing his desire to win a National Championship while in Tuscaloosa. He previously won a state championship in high school in Alabama.
“The brotherhood that’s been formed over this past year since I’ve been here, I’ve never seen anything like it,” Williams says.
“I’ve played with guys that I grew up with since I was four years old, and I still haven’t seen anything like this. Definitely got to get a national championship for my guys. Whatever I got to do, I’ll go out there and be the punter if I got to. I’m telling you, if I got to go to left tackle, I’ll make it happen. That’s pretty much my biggest individual goal—doing everything that I can to make our overall goal successful.”
The 18-year-old wide receiver highlights leadership as a key area of focus this season. Entering his sophomore year already established as one of college football’s best receivers, Williams sees this as the perfect moment to take on a greater leadership role.
“I know they will put everything on the line for me,” Williams says of his teammates. “All I can do as a leader is do the same for them, lead by example, and give them everything I’ve got every single day. Every day is not going to be easy. You’re going to have days when you roll in here and you’re tired, something is sore, you’re a little banged up. But when you have that guy with the leadership role, and it never seems like something is ever wrong with him, it makes you feel like, ‘Okay, let me lock in.’”
Contrasting Coaching Styles: Saban vs. DeBoer
Williams, who was initially recruited by Coach Saban when he was just a 14-year-old freshman in high school, says Saban and current Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer have “completely different” coaching styles.
That’s largely because Saban’s expertise is on defense, while DeBoer’s background is offense, beginning his coaching career as a wide receivers coach.
Although Alabama experienced its toughest season in nearly two decades last year, Williams remains enthusiastic about DeBoer’s coaching and is “super thankful” for how the new coach has helped him grow as a player and individual.
Williams continues, “He’s going to coach me hard too, but he does it a different way. He wants me to challenge myself. He allows me to be my own biggest critic. That’s why I’m super thankful for him, because he’s allowed me to not only grow as an individual but help others grow. We have a super player-led team, and those are the best teams. It was super awesome last year, and I can’t wait for this year.”
Outside of securing a National Championship, Williams also has individual accolades in mind—most notably, winning the Heisman Trophy. Considered one of the favorites entering the 2025 season, Williams regards such recognition as an “honor.”
“Just building that type of culture throughout this season—I feel like myself and a couple of others would be the reason that happened,” Williams says. “Anything else that comes with that, the externals like the Heisman, that would be an honor and a blessing.”
DJ Siddiqi
