How Can Alabama Utilize Ryan Williams This Season?

Ryan Williams came into Alabama as a 17-year-old freshman and became the leading receiver in a wide-out room that needed juice going into 2024. Williams lined up primarily as an outside receiver and totaled 865 receiving yards and eight touchdowns.

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Don't be shocked when you see Williams lining up in different spots in 2025.

Alabama now has the versatility and depth to rotate receivers and put them in the best position to succeed. With Germie Benard, Alabama's second-leading receiver from 2024, returning in addition to adding Isaiah Horton via the transfer portal, Alabama has the depth and experience to be a threat in the receiver room again.

Williams will get work on the outside like he did last season, but could also line up in the slot.

Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer revealed that after Alabama's spring practice on Tuesday.

“One thing in the slot, bringing in Isaiah Horton and having more length on the outside now with Jalen Hale too, has allowed Ryan to move around to different spots,” DeBoer said. “Between he and (Germie Bernard) and really I think Isaiah can play, maybe not the slot all the time, but these guys are very versatile. They kind of have their starting points, but we can move them around. That’s really what we like to do because we want to have a very unpredictable offense. So certain guys in certain spots don’t carry over from week to week and we can utilize their strengths still.”

On paper, this is the strongest Alabama receiver room as a whole since DeVonta Smith, Jerry Jeudy, Jaylen Waddle, and Henry Ruggs III were walking around campus.

Wyatt Fulton is the Tide 100.9 DME and Brand Manager, primarily covering Alabama Crimson Tide football and men's basketball. For more Crimson Tide coverage, follow Wyatt on X (Formerly known as Twitter) at @FultonW_.