The University Alabama is a very prestigious program known for winning. To even make a roster spot for Alabama is a massive deal. To get playtime while on the team for Alabama is an even bigger deal. One of the biggest honors you can have is starting for Alabama as a freshman. Now, imagine you are in your junior year of high school when Alabama asks you to reclass so you can play for them a year early at 17 years old. To the star wideout Ryan Williams, this is not just a dream, but a reality.
Ryan Williams is the youngest player in college football at the moment, at 17 years old. He is the starting Wideout for the Alabama Crimson Tide. While in high school, he was a 5-star recruit ranked eighth best in the nation for Wideouts and number two in Alabama. During his high school football career he racked up a total of 4,600 all-purpose yards and 65 touchdowns in 2 full seasons on varsity at Sarland Highschool. His comparison is Eagles and former Alabama Wideout DeVonta Smith. He is a true gamechanger when he is on the field and will tear apart any defense when going deep, being able to high point the ball effectively and make plays after the catch as well.
When he was in high school, he was a multi-sport athlete that did track and field as well as basketball. While a freshman in high school, he qualified for the Alabama 6A state championships in track and field and placed 4th in the 200-meter race. In 2021, he played 10 games and only had 289 receiving yards and 117 rushing yards. In 2022, he became the first Sophomore to ever be named Mr. Football in Alabama. (Mr. Football is one of the best awards you can be given in a state.) He was named 6A Back of the year with 1,641 yards and 24 touchdowns. He also rushed for 700 yards and 15 touchdowns. In 2023, he was Gatorade Player of the Year in Alabama for the 2nd year in a row. He was also their star player in the Alabama 6A State title. He went for 1,324 yards and 19 touchdowns and carried the ball 261 yards and 7 touchdowns. He also returned a punt and kickoff for scores. While in the Championship game he hauled in 3 touchdowns for 343 all purpose yards.
As of 10/14/24, which is 6 games in, Alabama has a 5-1 record. Ryan Williams has caught 23 catches for 576 yards and 6 touchdowns. He has also had some massive highlight plays against power 5 programs like Georgia and Vanderbilt. While playing against Georgia he had his best collegiate, game catching 6 passes for 177 yards and 1 touchdown, with his longest reception being a 75-yard bomb for a touchdown. He has been productive so far in his college career with his least amount of yards being 32 yards vs South Carolina. This week should be a huge week for the kid, playing another 5-1 team in the Tennessee Vols. Both teams are good, and this game should be a shootout between both teams. Hopefully, we will see Williams have another spectacular game
Williams is truly a special talent. The last 17-year-old player to play college football is currently one of the better running backs in the league, Braelon Allen. Luckily we will get to see three, possibly four more years of this generational talent before he gets sent to the NFL to hopefully dominate there too. When he makes it to the NFL just be watching for his number because you’re going to be seeing his number in the record books, just like he will do in college.
