Alabama Football: Measuring Ryan Williams’ impact on the 2024 offense
Saraland’s Ryan Williams (1) scores his second touchdown of the night against Clay-Chalkville during the AHSAA Class 6 A state championship game at Bryant Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Friday, Dec. 8, 2023.
Alabama Football wide receiver Ryan Williams might be the most electric player in all of high school football, and the national product from Saraland will be coming to T-Town sooner or later.
Williams, the top prospect in the 2025 recruiting class, announced his reclassification to the 2024 cycle yesterday and is expected to be on campus next fall.
So what does Ryan Williams bring to the Alabama football offense? Williams has long been considered a player with immediate impact.
Although he has a slight build, his speed, instincts and playmaking ability in the open field will make him dangerous on an SEC field from day one. However, the competition will be fierce in Alabama’s receiver room and Williams will have to earn every snap he gets.
Senior Jermaine Burton, who leads the Tide with 777 receiving yards and eight touchdowns, could return but is expected to head to the NFL.
Junior Ja’Corey Brooks has decided to enter the transfer portal after a disappointing third year.
Bama may see more outgoing transfers at this position space, but all key contributors are expected to return. Isaiah Bond projects to be a WR1 in his draft-eligible junior season.
Bond, who currently leads Alabama with 44 receptions, is a proven playmaker with a clutch gene. Classmate Kendrick Law also found a place in Tommy Rees’ offense during his sophomore year.
Law is a physical receiver who can run, catch and block and is used all over the field by Rees. He is effective as a slot receiver, in the backfield as an H-back or running back and has excelled in gadget plays.
The law is expected to play a much broader and clearly defined role in 2024. Behind Isaiah Bond and Kendrick Law, the receiver rotation is a little harder to predict.
This is where Ryan Williams could potentially play a role.Kobe Prentice has been a reliable receiver of possessions for the Tide, with 48 receptions over the last two years. Malik Benson received a lot of publicity last season as the top JUCO recruit in the country.
He hasn’t been a standout performer in 2023 but should be back at the Capstone for his sophomore year. True freshman Jalen Hale showed early signs of future stardom this fall, but it remains to be seen how much his role will expand next season.
Ryan Williams is likely in this group and should be very competitive in the rotation. His penchant for big plays and post-catch prowess rivals that of every other player currently in the room.
Many have expressed concerns about Williams’ size, but I highly doubt that is a limitation for the 5-star receiver. Williams will add weight as needed as part of Alabama Football’s strength and conditioning program.
Much like former Bama star Devonta Smith, Williams plays with an uncanny instinctive ability to guard and avoid big shots. Ryan Williams could very well be one of the Crimson Tide’s best receivers this season.
At least I see him playing a situational role in the receiver rotation. He’s such a good athlete that Tommy Rees could specifically design plays to allow him to hit the field.
Alabama could also choose to use Williams as a Kickstarter, assuming he is reliable and confident in doing so.
With Jalen Milroe likely back in the fold, this offense could be efficient and explosive for Alabama football in 2024.
A unit with no shortage of talent in the skill area just added perhaps its most dangerous weapon in five-star receiver Ryan Williams, and I can’t wait to see what his role will look like in year one.
