Former Alabama football coach Nick Saban didn’t mince his praise for Crimson Tide star wide receiver Ryan Williams.
In a segment on “College GameDay” comparing the impact of players like Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava and Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith on college football, Saban said that as a 17-year-old, Williams is in a league of his own.
“Ryan Williams is a mature competitor, man,” Saban said. “He’s one of the most mature guys I’ve ever recruited. He showed maturity as a freshman. And what really tells you when a guy is a mature competitor is that he can focus on the things that matter.”
For a 17-year-old, Saban said, Williams is “explosive, he has great hands, he can run after the catch” and he plays like another former Alabama receiver.
“I think this guy reminds me of Amari Cooper as a rookie, and I think this guy has a great career,” Saban said.
Who is Ryan Williams?
Williams was the No. 4 player and No. 3 receiver in the 2024 recruiting class. He was reclassified as a 2024 recruit following his junior football season at Saraland High School in Alabama, where he twice won the Mr. Football award and was named Gatorade Player of the Year.
Williams initially committed to Saban and Alabama in October 2022, but resumed his recruitment after Saban’s resignation. Williams rejoined the Crimson Tide’s 2024 class on Jan. 24.
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In three games with the Crimson Tide, Williams has six catches for 207 yards and three touchdowns.
Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. You can reach him at [email protected] or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared in the Tuscaloosa News: Nick Saban compares Ryan Williams to former Alabama football star WR
