Ryan Williams, University of Alabama’s new true freshman wide receiver, has made history as the youngest to ever play at Alabama and in college football at 17-years-old.
Williams has scored seven touchdowns and 649 total offensive yards in just eight games. In Alabama’s most recent game against the University of Missouri, Williams contributed four receptions and 53 receiving yards.
“It helps having a guy like Jalen Milroe at [quarterback] for the perfect ball placement for Williams to do his thing,” Kai Armitage, junior Alabama fan, said.
Williams made his debut with the Crimson Tide on Aug. 31 in the Western Kentucky season opener against Alabama. Displaying his talent, Williams scored two touchdowns with 139 all-purpose yards, leading to a 63-0 win for Alabama.
“I think he’s younger than I am and he’s playing at an elite level,” Luke Fykes, senior Alabama fan, said. “He’s one of the best receivers in the entire country, and even scouts are saying that he could even play in the NFL tomorrow. It’s incredible what he’s doing.”
The previous youngest athlete to play at Alabama was Trent Richardson, running back, who started his college football career at 18-years-old.
“Guys like Ryan Williams and Trent Richardson both have gotten to play a lot since they were 17 or 18 years old, and they got to the league, and they did pretty well,” Fykes said.
Williams entered his college football career through his reclassification, coming from Saraland High School in Ala., where Williams scored 76 touchdowns in just 39 games. Williams’ reclassification allowed him to play a year early at Alabama.
“Allowing kids to reclassify is definitely a good option, especially for kids like Williams that are so phenomenal, they’re just beating up on people in high school football all the time,” Fykes said. “Allowing them to get a head start with NIL (Name, Image and Likeness) to jump their career, it’s a great way to start.”
Along with NIL and reclassifying, Williams entering his Division I career early will open up more opportunities for him and other young athletes.
“You have to play three years in college for football to then get drafted, so if you’re playing since day one, you get three years of experience against high level athletes,” Fykes said.
With eight weeks left in the conference 2024 season, Williams is expected to continue as a powerful force.
“It seems like he is going to have a great career at Alabama,” Armitage said.
