The Devy Digest, Freshman Friday’s – featuring Alabama WR Ryan Williams.
- Ryan Williams
- Position: Wide Recever
- Alabama Crimson Tide
- 6’1” 165 lbs
- Draft Eligible: 2027
- Devy Digest Freshman WR Rank: 3
Who is Ryan Williams?
Ryan Williams was a 5⭐️ in the composites who attended Saraland High in Alabama. He was a three sport athlete, playing Varsity Basketball and competing in Track And Field. Williams has a verified 10.49 100M dash. Williams reclassified and was initially part of the 2025 class.
During his high school career, Williams put up eye-popping numbers. He rushed 94 times for 1,078 yards as a running back, and hauled in 187 catches for 3,254 yards and an incredible 47 touchdowns. he held 27 offers and was not able to sign on early signing day due to reclassifying. Williams scheduled visits with Texas, Alabama; and Auburn and there were rumblings that he could flip his commitment to Auburn. However, he stated he was strongly committed to Alabama.
When Nick Saban announced his retirement, Williams would decommit and take other visits. But in the end, he would ultimately sign with Alabama and become a huge get asset the Kalen DeBoer regime.
Ryan Williams possesses game breaking speed with excellent fluidity as a route runner. Williams is effortless with the way he attacks his corners with multiple gears. His ability to make corners turn the wrong way and to get them on their heels with little to no wasted movement seems almost effortless.
Williams brings great lateral agility and quickness to change direction on a dime. It makes him a threat to take it to the house on every play. He has good field vision to make an impact after the catch. As someone who reclassified, Williams is a year younger than his peers in this 2024 class. He will need to physically develop to be effective with the riggers of the SEC play.
Pathway to Success
Ryan Williams will thrive in DeBoer’s system where spacing is an important aspect. You can’t teach speed, and Williams has that in spades. The Alabama WR room is fairly open with a couple of bodies transferring out.
Jalen Hale is still there and figures to command one of the boundary positions. Germie Bernard also transfers in from Washington. Bernard and returning Kendrick Law are very similar players who occupy the slot and garner more manufactured touches than down field threats. Williams could very well position himself into the the other outside boundary position. And with the NIL world and where Williams has already decommitted once, the coaching staff would be wise to play Williams early and often; as he does brings immediate juice to the position as they retool.
The other returning receivers aren’t gamechangers, they include: Kobe Prentice, Emmanuel Henderson, Jarren Hamilton and Cole Adams. Coach Kalen DeBoer doesn’t have ties to these players. DeBoer had to recruit Williams to get him to commit, so it would make sense for him to see the field right away.
The Crimson Tide QB should be Jalen Milroe, and we know he loves to throw the deep ball. Williams can be the recipient of those, with the ability to track the deep ball and make an impact in the afternoons. I can also see Williams being used as a returner to utilize his game-breaking speed and his ability to create with the ball in his hands.
Areas for Improvements & Concerns
Ryan Williams will need to bulk up. With him reclassifying, there is some worry with the physicality that he will face. Some of this is alleviated with HC Kalen DeBoer being there, though. DeBoer is a very innovative coach. He can get Williams in motion and in the slot where he won’t be jammed at the line of scrimmage. Williams has the frame to add on additional size but it is something to note. Alabama’s Quarterback play is also a question mark.
Jalen Milroe isn’t the prototypical DeBoer type of QB to run the offense. Alabama has to simplify their offense last year for Milroe to find success. DeBoer’s system, while QB-friendly, does have multiple reads and progressions. The quarterback must be in command pre-snap, know what coverage the defense is in and where the help will be coming from, if the safety is playing deep, and if the linebacker will shift into coverage. We saw Milroe struggle with that last year. Milroe will have to take that next step. As we saw this past season, he was not able to make any receiver fantasy-relevant.
Devy & C2C Value
In Devy drafts, it depends on whose available when taking Ryan Williams. However, he should be taken early if there aren’t viable options in the player pool. I would not fault a manager for picking in the latter half of the first round to go with these Freshman WR over a 2025 draft-eligible option in the player pool.
In C2C startups, it’s not out of line for him to be considered towards the end of the second round. Depending on how the draft unfolds, he might be the best player there. In C2C supplemental drafts, he likely will go in the first half of the first round, if not third overall. Williams has the potential to be the next great Alabama WR. He should be an impactful True Freshman and retain value. With the lack of true standouts in the Alabama receiving room, I expect Williams to receive a significant amount of snaps.
NFL Outlook
Ryan Williams has the making of a top 15 NFL pick. If he stays at Alabama for the duration of his career, he will be in DeBoer’s system which is predicated on space. Williams should thrive in that system. We know he’s a fluid athlete with game-breaking speed. While it’s hard to predict three years out, the tier one WRs in this recruiting class have the chance to be special and change the landscape of the position in a few years.
Andy Pham
Andy is the creator of the Devy Digest. His passion is devy and C2C. Andy's Devy Diguest articles provide insightful, yet thoughtful commentary to give you a leg up on the devy prospects so you know how to approach your devy and C2C drafts. With The Devy Digest podcast, Andy provides episodes of interesting and exciting topics and when he invites guests, you get to be a fly on the wall, listening in on two people having a conversation where they give you a different perspective. Come, join the journey that is Andy's Devy Digest.