"He should be at prom, not catching bombs": CFB Fans react to Alabama freshman WR Ryan Williams who skipped his senior year of high school

By Aman Sharma

Modified Sep 30, 2024 14:35 GMT

Ryan Williams, a standout wide receiver from Saraland High School, was reclassified to the 2024 class, allowing him to join Alabama earlier than expected. Initially part of the 2025 recruiting class, Williams decided to move up to 2024. After three games, Williams had already amassed four touchdowns and proven to be one of quarterback Jalen Milroe’s key targets.

However, it was his stunning 75-yard touchdown in Alabama’s recent 41-34 thriller win against No. 2 Georgia that sent the internet into a frenzy.

One fan quipped,

"He should be at prom, not catching bombs,"

Another remarked,

"I don’t think y’all understand the fact that he’s 17."

Image via Ig@HayesFawcett

Here is how fans are expressing their awe and reactions:

Image viaIg@hayesfawcett3

Image via Ig@hayesfawcett3

In a game where Alabama once led 28-0 but found themselves trailing 34-33 late in the fourth quarter, Williams stepped up. With just over two minutes left, Milroe connected with Williams for a perfectly placed pass on his back shoulder. The freshman spun past Georgia defensive back Julian Humphrey and bolted down the sideline for the game-winning touchdown.

Recalling the play, Ryan Williams said,

"I can't get tackled. I just had to do my part in helping us finish that game," Williams told ESPN. "We'd come too far. Somebody had to make a play."

Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell wasn’t surprised by Ryan Williams' heroics, saying,

"Man, when I first saw him, he was this skinny kid," Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell told ESPN. "Then you got him on the practice field, and he's been doing things like that ever since. That's just who he is."

Ryan Williams and Jalen Milroe: A Dynamic Duo in Alabama’s Offensive Success

Through four games, Alabama freshman Ryan Williams has already become a pivotal figure, catching five touchdowns while averaging an impressive 28.9 yards per reception. His standout moment in Alabama's victory over Georgia included a crucial 54-yard bobbling catch in the third quarter, setting up a field goal.

"He's only going to get better, and the best thing about him is that he's always working, always doing something to become a better player, the work in the dark that not everyone sees," Milroe told ESPN.

Milroe racked up 374 passing yards and two touchdowns while rushing for another 117 yards and two scores. As Georgia mounted a furious second-half comeback, cutting Alabama's lead from 30-7 to 34-33, the calm demeanor on the sidelines remained evident.

Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell attributed this composure to head coach Kalen DeBoer’s leadership:

"That's the standard at Alabama, and it just filters down to the players, to everybody," Campbell said to ESPN.

Despite Ryan Williams' youth—he won’t turn 18 until February 9—he's already a key contributor, finishing the Georgia game with six catches for 177 yards. With Alabama holding onto its ninth win over Georgia in 10 meetings, a leaping interception by freshman Zabien Brown sealed the victory.