Is Ryan Williams the Next Big Thing in College Football? Decoding the 17-Year-Old WR’s Performance vs. Georgia

A true freshman in college rarely makes an impact, let alone while playing for a program like Alabama. However, Ryan Williams has proved many wrong, and in just four starts, he has racked up impressive receiving yards and touchdowns in one of the toughest conferences.

Against the Georgia Bulldogs, the star wide receiver caught six receptions for 177 yards. It also included a game-winning 75-yard score that gave the Crimson Tide their lead back and ensured a victory.

However, considering the abundance of talent that flows through programs like Alabama, is Williams truly the next best thing in college football? Well, many in the football world sure seem to think so, especially after this week’s outing.

Leading 30-15 with four minutes left in the third quarter, the Crimson Tide were on their 30-yard line when Jalen Milroe launched a deep pass down the middle of the field. Williams caught it at the Bulldogs’ 30-yard line but fumbled upon contact.

However, he kept his composure, regained possession before the ball touched the ground, and sprinted into the red zone. It took three Georgia defenders to finally bring him down at the 15-yard line.

Alabama couldn’t fully capitalize on this opportunity, settling for a field goal.

His next big play came when the team choked and blew their lead in the fourth quarter, allowing the Bulldogs to take a one-point lead. Now trailing in the fourth quarter, with 2:30 left on the clock, Milroe again threw a deep pass from their 25-yard line toward Williams along the right sideline.

Since the pass was a bit behind, the true freshman showed great awareness, adjusting his body and catching the pigskin around the 50-yard line.

He then started running, but upon seeing two defenders closing on him, Williams did a nifty spin move, taking the ball into the end zone for a 75-yard TD. The Crimson Tide got the lead again, eventually winning the game.

Fans couldn’t believe what they saw from the 17-year-old ball carrier, with many expressing that they hadn’t seen something so unreal. Similarly, others praised his insane spin move and surreal body control.

Another chimed in and added,

A user commented,

Others said,

The 17-year-old would have been in high school right now if it weren’t for his athletic prowess. He is not only tearing up college defenses, racking up yards, and scoring TDs but also stealing hearts all around the football world.

Williams almost said ‘No’ to Alabama

The 17-year-old true freshman should still be in high school since he was part of Alabama’s 2024 recruiting class but later shifted to the 2024 class. As a five-star recruit, he was the 4th most valued prospect in his class. So the program quickly snagged the prospect before anyone else could.

It has paid off as well. In four outings so far, Williams has caught 16 passes for 462 yards, along with an impressive 5 Touchdowns.

The youngest player in CFB, Williams, came with a highly impressive resume as he was the first two-time Mr. Football winner in the state of Alabama. During his final two years at Saraland High School, he amassed more than 4,600 yards and 65 touchdowns.

However, Alabama almost lost him when Nick Saban retired, forcing Ryan Williams to rethink his options. Fortunately, Kalen DeBoer was able to convince him to commit to the program. Now, both he and Alabama are reaping the benefits of that decision.