Everyone in Tuscaloosa remembers where they were when Ryan Williams spun. You know the play. September 2024, Bryant-Denny Stadium, the air so thick with tension you could practically chew it. Alabama was blowing a massive lead against Georgia, and the "new era" under Kalen DeBoer looked like it was about to go up in smoke. Then, this 17-year-old kid—who should’ve been at a high school pep rally—catches a high ball, pirouettes mid-air like he’s in the Matrix, and leaves two Bulldogs clutching at ghosts.
He didn't just score a 75-yard touchdown. He became a legend before he could legally buy a lottery ticket.
But football is rarely a straight line up. If you only watch the highlights, you're missing the real story of Alabama wide receiver Ryan Williams. It’s been a wild ride of reclassifying, record-shattering freshman moments, and a 2025 "sophomore slump" that had some fans hitting the panic button way too early. Let's look at what's actually happening with the guy wearing number 2.
The Reclassification Gamble
Most kids are worried about senior prom. Ryan Williams was worried about whether he’d already "beaten" high school football. After becoming the first sophomore ever to win Mr. Football in the state of Alabama at Saraland High, he decided he’d seen enough.
He skipped his senior year. Just like that.
He reclassified from the 2025 class to 2024, trading Friday night lights for the SEC grind. People thought he was crazy. At 6-foot-0 and roughly 170-something pounds, the logic was that he’d get bullied by 22-year-old grown men in the SEC West. Instead, he ended his true freshman season with 865 receiving yards and 8 touchdowns. He tied for fourth in the SEC in scoring receptions. Honestly, he made the transition look so easy it was almost disrespectful to the defenders he was burning.
That Sophomore Slump (or Is It?)
Then came 2025. This past season was... different.
If you look at the raw numbers, the "Hollywood" sheen wore off a bit. He finished the 2025 regular season with 49 catches for 689 yards and 4 touchdowns. By most standards, that’s a solid year. By Ryan Williams standards? It felt like a drought.
Why the production dipped
- The Quarterback Shift: Transitioning from Jalen Milroe to Ty Simpson changed the geometry of the offense. Simpson is more of a "work through the progressions" guy, which means the ball gets spread out.
- The Drop Problem: This is the elephant in the room. Williams led the SEC with 13 drops through the early postseason. Some of those were walk-in touchdowns, like the one against Wisconsin.
- Injuries and Attention: He dealt with a concussion early in the 2025 season against Florida State and a lingering leg issue. Plus, defensive coordinators aren't stupid. They started bracketing him, forcing guys like Germie Bernard or Isaiah Horton to beat them instead.
The drops are frustrating, sure. But remember: he’s 18. Most college sophomores are still figuring out how to do their own laundry. He’s navigating an offense where he’s often the focal point of every defensive meeting during the week.
The $1.6 Million Question
NIL is the new reality, and Williams is right in the middle of it. He’s basically a walking corporation. With a valuation hovering around $1.6 to $1.8 million, he’s one of the highest-paid players in the sport.
He’s got deals with everyone: EA Sports (he was a cover athlete for College Football 26), Uber Eats, Beats by Dre, and even a plant-based egg company called Eat Just. When he dropped a new endorsement deal right before the 2025 College Football Playoff, it caused a stir.
Some old-school fans hate it. They think the money is why his production dipped. But if you listen to the kid talk, he’s "Alabama through and through." When the transfer portal rumors started swirling during his 2025 struggles, he shut them down fast. "Nah," he told reporters in December. He’s staying in Tuscaloosa for 2026.
What the NFL Scouts Are Saying
Here is the kicker: he isn’t draft-eligible in 2026. Because of the NFL’s "three years out of high school" rule, Williams has to play at least one more season of college ball.
Scouts are already salivating, though. They see the body control. They see the 10.49-second 100-meter dash speed. They see a kid who can play the slot or the boundary. The consensus? If he can clean up the focus drops and put on about 10-15 pounds of "NFL muscle," he’s a locked-in first-round pick in 2027.
The Road Ahead for Ryan Williams
So, what should we expect next? 2026 is the "money year."
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With another year in Kalen DeBoer's system and a full off-season to get his body right, the ceiling is still the Heisman. No, really. If he finds that 2024 magic again and combines it with a veteran’s consistency, he’s the most dangerous player in the country.
Watch the target share. In 2025, there were games where he'd run 22 routes and not get a single target. That’s partly on the play-calling and partly on his own ability to get open against elite press coverage.
How to track his progress in 2026
- Check the "Contested Catch" stats: In 2025, his success rate on 50/50 balls plummeted. If he starts winning those again, Alabama’s offense becomes unstoppable.
- Monitor the weight room: If he shows up to spring camp at 185+ lbs without losing his burst, he’ll be much harder to jam at the line of scrimmage.
- The Drop Rate: Keep an eye on the first three games. If he’s catching the easy ones, the mental block is gone.
Ryan Williams isn't a finished product. He’s a phenom who hit a speed bump. But if history tells us anything about Mobile-born receivers at Alabama, it's that you shouldn't bet against them.
Next Steps for Tide Fans: Keep a close eye on the spring game depth chart. With several veteran receivers hitting the portal or heading to the league, Williams will likely be the undisputed WR1. Look for how the coaching staff utilizes him in the return game, as his special teams touches often serve as a "get right" spark when the passing game is stagnant.