Truth in advertising: Alabama WR Ryan Williams really is that good

Ryan Williams is 17 years old.

I’d like for you, dear reader, to take the next 30 seconds to try and remember what you were like and what you were doing at 17 years old …

Done? OK, good.

Ryan Williams is 17 years old. He is a superstar already for the Alabama Crimson Tide football program. And in a world filled with propaganda and “fake news,” the truth-in-advertising principle applies to him.

What were you doing at 17, again?

We were all told that Williams was the Next Big Thing as his arrival was about to dawn in Tuscaloosa. But as is the case with football recruiting, your mileage varies wildly between “recruiting promises” and “fact”.

In Williams’ case, it is straight fact with a chaser of greatness. The Tide receiver might have touched the ball only twice last weekend against Western Kentucky, but he also wasn’t tackled either time – as his first collegiate touch went for an 84-yard touchdown and his second went for a 55-yard TD in a 63-0 destruction of the Hilltoppers.

“A lot of attention gets thrown his way, but he’s just gone about it really humble and matter-of-fact, stay the course, just go to work every day, attitude,” new Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer said of Williams after the game Saturday. “And our guys really appreciate that.”

Both times, Williams showed the breakaway speed that was promised during his recruitment out of Saraland High School. Both times, Williams delivered on all 5 stars he had attached to his name. Quite the debut, and certainly sets a bit of precedent for fans expecting Williams to score every time he touches the rock?

“I don’t think so,” Williams told the media when asked if he feels pressure now to score every time he catches the ball. “I was just playing ball. Was just doing exactly what my guys needed me to do.”

For his efforts, Williams earned SEC co-freshman of the week honors – sharing the award with Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava, who is a redshirt freshman.

When DeBoer arrived on campus in Saban’s wake, he knew he had to quickly establish relationships with committed talent and try to lock them down while the vultures were circling. Auburn was among the programs making a major push at Williams, but he ended up signing with the Tide – echoing memories of Saban’s inking of Julio Jones in his first full recruiting class (Ryan Williams wasn’t even alive …) that helped push Alabama to the 2009 national title.

Ryan Williams was not alive for this press conference. Insane. pic.twitter.com/cu35FYgxkE

— Alabama Outsider (@AlabamaOutsider) September 2, 2024

There were plenty of whispers during fall camp that Williams was transcendent, and that his star turn was weeks away. But in a moment that surprised Williams, who had to reclassify into the 2024 class to even join Alabama’s roster this season, he ended up earning his first college start in his first college game.

“He was like ‘Ryan,’ (and) I just ran out there,” said Williams while recounting the shocked expression he had after the game for reporters. “It was a blessing.”

The teammate who chucked both touchdown tosses to Williams, Tide senior quarterback Jalen Milroe, heaped more praise on his freshman teammate after dismantling Western Kentucky and ushering in the “4 + 2 = 6” era.

“That man is 17 years old and he’s balling,” Milroe said. “I’m just proud of him, but I know he wants to constantly get better, constantly wants to improve, and that’s something that’s just going to be evident when it comes to his success this year.”

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There was rightful concern that Alabama wouldn’t be as potent at wide receiver in 2024, what with Isaiah Bond bolting to Texas, Malik Benson sprinting to Florida State and Jermaine Burton graduating. Even with Kendrick Law and Kobe Prentice returning, the WR room was awfully thin with actual WR1 talent.

Williams changed that dynamic almost instantly. And he continues to do so, earning praise from his QB1, his head coach and also his offensive coordinator.

“He loves football,” Tide OC Nick Sheridan told reporters Monday. “He loves to work. He’s willing to be coached. I think he’s hungry to continue to build off of what he did in the first game. We’re excited to try to help him get better.”

Don’t expect Williams to maintain this 1:1 reception-to-touchdown ratio forever. Nothing that sweet can be maintained. Then again, who would have pegged a 17-year-old kid lighting the world on fire for the Crimson Tide through Week 1?

It is Ryan Williams’ world right now. SEC beware.

David Wasson

An APSE national award-winning writer and editor, David Wasson has almost four decades of experience in the print journalism business in Florida and Alabama. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and several national magazines and websites. He also hosts Gulfshore Sports with David Wasson, weekdays from 3-5 pm across Southwest Florida and on FoxSportsFM.com. His Twitter handle: @JustDWasson.