He must be in high school! The meteoric rise of

• Mark Schlabach, ESPN

  • Senior Citizen WriterOct 18, 2024, 07:00 AM ET Close Senior college football
  • author Author of 7 books on college football
  • Graduate of the University of Georgia

ALABAMA COACH KALEN DeBoer and quarterback Jalen Milroe aren’t the only ones delighted that receiver Ryan Williams chose to forego his senior year of high school to sign up with the Crimson Tide this season. So are the high school football coaches who competed versus Williams, the only two-time Mr. Football in Alabama history, the previous three seasons.

“Someone texted me and stated, ‘I bet you’re thankful Ryan Williams reclassified,'” said Ham Barnett, head coach at St. Paul’s Episcopal School in Mobile. “I informed him my defensive backs were happy for sure.”

In three seasons at Saraland High School, just 10 miles north of Mobile, Williams had more than 4,400 yards of overall offense and scored 76 goals in 39 games– 47 receiving, 24 rushing, 1 death and 4 on punt and kick returns.Williams ‘meteoric increase as a Crimson Tide freshman has actually been among the leading stories in the very first half of the 2024 season.Going into Saturday’s contest at No.

11 Tennessee (3:30 p.m. ET/ABC, ESPN+ ), Williams leads No. 7 Alabama with 23 catches for 576 yards with 6 touchdowns. His 25-yard average on receptions leads the FBS.Those who enjoyed him compete in youth leagues and high school aren’t that shocked by

his immediate effect. “He would make plays that were not there, when you think you’ve got everything covered,”Barnett said.

“He ‘d just make individuals miss out on. He was simply a problem– a match nightmare for everybody. The things I see on Saturday are exactly what he was doing on Friday nights.”Williams’most significant moment up until now began Sept. 28 when he beat two Georgia defenders to take a 75-yard goal with 2:18 left in Alabama’s 41-34 success at Bryant-Denny Arena in Tuscaloosa.It was the type of explosive play Williams had made many times in the past. “Every game, he did something that left you just kind of scratching your head or laughing

,” Saraland High coach Jeff Kelly stated.”It was something all the time.

” Alabama freshman receiver Ryan Williams leads the country

with an average of 25 yards per catch. Gary Cosby Jr./ Imagn Images BY NOW, YOU’VE probably heard more than as soon as that Williams is only

17 years of ages. He turns 18 on Feb. 9.”He’s an old soul,” stated Tiffany Coleman, Williams’ mom.”People resemble,’ He’s so mature to be 17.’ His grandparents had a lot to do with that. His maturity and foundation originated from them. “Coleman was 18 years of ages when Williams was born. Williams’daddy, Ryan Williams, was 17. A few months after the more youthful Williams entered the world, his daddy left for college. An all-state receiver at B.C. Rain High in Mobile, the elder Williams signed with Auburn as a cornerback in February 2007. He invested 2 seasons with the Tigers before transferring to Copiah-Lincoln Community College in Mississippi in 2009. Williams’daddy completed his college career at Louisiana Tech– a knee injury limited him to only two games as a senior in 2011. While his father was at college, Williams coped with his paternal grandparents, Robert and Catherine Williams.

His grandpa was retired, so he cooked breakfast for his grandson each early morning and made certain his clothes were ironed for school. They were inseparable.”He was always with his grandfather,” Coleman said.”He would take him to practice. He would take him to school. He was Robert’s shotgun

pal, you understand? “Robert Williams likewise assisted present his grand son to football. They enjoyed Auburn and Alabama games on television together, in addition to Michigan and Ohio State replays on the freshly released Huge 10 Network. When Williams accompanied his grandpa to the area barbershop, the other patrons were shocked by the child’s huge knowledge of the game.”With Ryan knowing that his dad played football, he was currently all-in, “Coleman stated.”He used to view his daddy do exercises when he got home. I’m not going to say he was destined to play football, however he already liked the game since that’s all he was around. “Once Williams’father returned home from Louisiana Tech, he supported his kid’s interest in football. Williams remained in the yard on numerous early mornings going through drills that his dad found out at college– sprints, cones, appropriate angles and pass paths. “When I came home from school, football was still fresh,”Williams’father said.”He was just pleased to be hanging out with me, and we entered the backyard and did the same things

we were performing in college. I broke it down to his level and it sped up as we both got older. ” Alabama receiver Ryan Williams bet the Spartans in the Saraland Youth Football League. Coleman family AS A 5-YEAR-OLD, Williams wanted to play running back. His first youth league coach put him at quarterback.”He was a playmaker, “Coleman stated.” When he was a quarterback, if he could not find any person open, he was like Cam Newton out there. He’s taking off and he’s going to rating. “Playing for the Spartans in the Saraland Youth Football League, Williams scored five touchdowns in a win over the Community Park Giants. His father’s friend, Luther Page, dubbed his godson “Hollywood” after the game. The name has actually stuck with him throughout his career.” Every Saturday, we understood Hollywood was going to place on a program,”Coleman stated. Soon, Hollywood was commemorating touchdowns with the most recent dances he ‘d seen on the internet such as the Nae or Woah.Robert Williams didn’t like his grand son showboating, however, and told him, “Hey, male, imitate you have actually been there before. Do not get down there and celebrate. Just hand the ball to the referee and tackle your company. “The events continued.

“If you’re Hollywood, you have actually got to be Hollywood, “Coleman said.In the 5th grade, Williams signed up with the Eight Mile Giants of the Mobile Youth Football Conference. The Giants already had a quarterback, so he played receiver

for the very first time.

Hollywood didn’t slow down at a new position on a brand-new team

.” You ‘d see him working out with his dad before games, and you might just inform that the kid was different due to the fact that of his work principles,”said Jermaine Rogers, an assistant coach with the Giants. “His talent ran out this world, but his work ethic was out of this universe.”The Giants developed another name for their team, “First 48 Boyz,” since Rogers, a homicide investigator for the Mobile Police Department, appeared in the reality television program,”The First 48.” Williams’colleagues included Saraland High defensive take on Antonio

Coleman, who is committed to Auburn, and Williamson High offensive tackle Carde Smith, who is headed to USC.Williams was a superstar for the Giants, even declaring in a video taken at the time,” My name is Hollywood Williams, and I’m the No. 1 receiver in the country.”The brief clip would show to be prophetic.AFTER PLAYING QUARTERBACK for three seasons in middle school, Williams was poised to run the

offense for the ninth-grade group at Saraland High in 2021. He was dealing with the varsity squad throughout preseason camp and remained after practice one day to throw with receiver Jarel Williams, who is now a sophomore at West Virginia.Just a week before the season opener, the Spartans were still looking for a third receiver, and assistant coach Brett Boutwell observed Williams running paths and catching loses consciousness the workplace window.”Coach Boutwell watched out there and stated,’ Hey, we require to offer Ryan a shot, ‘”Kelly said. “He had a natural something

special to him. He was 14 years of ages and playing against 17- and 18-year-olds. By the second half of the season and the playoffs, he was making some big plays.”If they didn’t stay after practice that day and get those extra reps, he

might have been a ninth-grade quarterback that year. I don’t understand. We sort of stumbled into it. “Editor’s Picks 1 Related The summer before Williams’sophomore season, Kelly informed anyone who would listen:”Ryan is going to take control of the state and no one understands who he is.”In Saraland High’s season opener in 2022, Williams scored his group’s very first four goals on a 75-yard

punt return and

3 catches. He had 12 receptions for 138 lawns in a 42-23 win versus Daphne High.Two weeks later, on the Spartans’ first offending play against St.

Paul’s Episcopal, an official sent out quarterback K.J. Lacey back to the sideline due to the fact that he wasn’t using proper knee pads. Williams lined up at receiver, motioned to quarterback and scored a 71-yard goal on a sweep.” We pinched everybody and they chose to run stretch, “Barnett said.”He made two guys miss and outran them. We had a Division I safety [Chris Bracy] on that group too. He’s a starter at UAB now, and he outran him and beat him to the edge.

“Lacey, who is devoted to Texas, returned to the field on Saraland High’s next belongings. Williams ran for 103 lawns with three touchdowns and caught another rating in a 42-14 success. Ryan Williams presents with family after winning Alabama’s Mr. Football. Coleman family THROUGH SIX games as a sophomore, Williams scored 18 times in 50 touches on offense. He dedicated to play for Alabama coach Nick Saban after scoring two times in a 48-7 rout of Baldwin County on Oct. 7, 2022. 2 weeks later on, Saraland High, ranked No. 1 in Class 6A, suffered its first defeat, losing 27-26 at Theodore High on a 25-yard basket with 1:19 left. Williams scored on a 76-yard punt return and a 13-yard reception.His finest work was still to come.In the second round of the state playoffs, Williams scored a 68-yard goal on a go route on the

first play from scrimmage versus Hillcrest High in Tuscaloosa.”Right out of eviction, “Hillcrest High coach Jamie Mitchell stated. “He let us understand real quick what was coming.”Against the unbeaten Patriots,

who had one of the very best defenses in the state, Williams had eight catches for 240 backyards with 3 goals. He ran for 2 scores and tossed another one in a 56-31 thrashing. “I have actually coached for 34 years and it’s tough for me to keep in mind a player that had a bigger impact on a game than him,” Mitchell stated.”He just solitarily dismantled us, and we had a really good football group. He made it look actually simple versus us.”Mitchell’s teams won state champions in two states. He coached Philadelphia Eagles receiver A.J. Brown at Starkville High in Mississippi.” Often, it’s hard to get those guys the ball, even as great as they are,” Mitchell stated.” [Williams] simply had a flair for finding area and creating huge, explosive plays. When you take a look at him, there’s absolutely nothing in

his appearance that’s going to strike fear in you. He’s not a big kid. “Once the ball is snapped, his jerk and his ability to produce space

and space for himself are unreal. He has an inherent capability to get to 10th gear in simply a blink of an eye. “In a 57-56 win in overtime versus Homewood High in the state quarterfinals, Williams ran 10 times for 159 yards with two touchdowns and caught 10 passes for 160 with one score. The Spartans needed every bit of his production

after almost misusing a 27-0 lead.Saraland High avenged its only loss of the season with a 21-6 win over Theodore High in the semifinals to reach the state championship game.At Auburn’s Jordan-Hare Stadium, Williams scored 4 goals and had 291 all-purpose yards in a 38-17 win over Mountain Brook to offer Saraland its first state title. Williams’58-yard touchdown run on a fourth-and-1 play helped seal it. He was named MVP of the championship game.As a sophomore, Williams had 1,641 receiving yards with 24 goals and 700 hurrying lawns with 15 scores. He tossed for a touchdown and ran back two punts for ratings. He ended up being the very first sophomore to win

the state’s Mr. Football honor.”It was a highlight reel all year,”Kelly stated.”He had big minutes and dynamite minutes and simply played at a various speed and level. I do not wish to take it for given, but it was type of commonplace. The things that would stand apart to everybody else

viewing him for the first time was just sort of another Friday night in Saraland.” play 0:57 Ryan Williams raises for unreal Alabama TD Jalen Milroe tosses it up the sideline to Ryan Williams

, who comes down with ball, stays inbounds, then scores a goal for Alabama.IN MID-JULY 2023, Williams broke the news to Kelly that he was reclassifying to the Class of 2024 and his junior season would be his final one at Saraland High. Williams didn’t openly announce his choice up until Dec. 23. “I believe it speaks volumes about who he is,”

Kelly said.”

He didn’t want it to be out there due to the fact that he didn’t want to

be an interruption for his colleagues. We had a team that had an opportunity to win another state title. He and his family did a tremendous job keeping that decision private.”Saraland High’s opener versus Lipscomb Academy in Nashville was transmitted by ESPN. Williams was covered by Tennessee commitment Kaleb Beasley throughout the game. He scored on a 50-yard catch and run in the third quarter, then put the Spartans ahead 31-24 when he faced completion zone on the first play of overtime. Lipscomb answered with a touchdown however missed the extra point in Saraland’s 31-30 victory.Along with Williams’ big-play ability and Lacey’s arm, Saraland counted on its dominant defense in going 10-0 in the regular season. After the nail-biter versus Lipscomb Academy, the Spartans outscored their next nine challengers, 513-103. They scored on all 10 belongings in a 70-20 thrashing of Foley High, then Lacey tossed seven goals– three to Williams– in a 59-20 win versus Blount High.Saraland had a 35-0 lead at the half versus Theodore High, the only group to beat them in 2022, before winning 42-13. After travelling through its very first four championship game to run the state’s longest winning streak to 20 games, the Spartans dealt with Clay-Chalkville High with a chance to win back-to-back Class 6A state titles. The game was played at Alabama’s Bryant-Denny Arena, and Williams supplied Crimson Tide fans with a sneak peek of what was to come.Williams had 343 all-purpose backyards and scored all 4 of Saraland’s goals in a 31-28 loss. Clay-Chalkville’s defense stopped Lacey at its 1-yard line on the final play of the game. Williams hauled in 11 passes for 232 lawns with 2 scores, ran for 27 lawns with one rating and returned the opening kickoff of the second half 86 lawns for another touchdown.It was a

fitting ending for a player who would become the state’s very first two-time winner of the Mr. Football award, and it would not be the last time he would star at Bryant-Denny Stadium.Barnett, who describes himself as an Alabama football fan, mores than happy Williams is now competing for the Crimson Tide– and not versus his team.Barnett called Williams the best high school ability player the talent-rich Mobile location has produced. That consists of former NFL players Julio Jones, T.J. Yeldon, Pat White and others. “He’s something various with his wiggle,”Barnett said.” He can change instructions and feel where protectors are, even in the air, and land and make a relocation like I’ve never ever seen before. “We understood he was more elite than all the high school players he was breaking.

He gets to the [college] level, and you think it might level a bit, especially at his age. Seeing him doing the same things he was doing versus high school kids, at 17, really impresses me.”