Ryan Williams hopes added weight will lead to big second season at Alabama

Alabama receiver Ryan Williams. Photo | Alabama Athletics

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Ryan Williams is hoping some added muscle will translate to extra production during his sophomore season. The Alabama receiver is still listed at the same 6-foot, 175 pounds he was just his debut season last year, but that might not be the case by the time fall rolls around.

“I’m getting a little bigger, if y’all can’t tell,” Williams said while smiling and looking down at his bicep on Thursday. “I’m just trying to impact blocking because my guys block for me. I’m just trying to return the favor down the field blocking.”

Don’t worry, Alabama fans. Williams doesn’t plan on losing a step with his added bulk. The speedy receiver even went as far as to tell reporters that he plans on posting a faster time in the 40-yard dash than the 4.37 mark Jalen Milroe recorded during Alabama’s Pro Day.

He’s just going to achieve that burst with a bit more power.

During his freshman season, Ryan Wiliams earned Freshman All-American honors recording 48 catches for a team-high 865 yards and eight touchdowns. According to Pro Football Focus, 397 of those yards came after the catch. With his new added weight, Williams says he’s looking forward to breaking more tackles along with shaking past defenders in open space.

Williams’ weight game comes as Alabama’s receiving unit is getting bigger as a whole. The Tide returns Jalen Hale (6-foot-1, 192 pounds) from a season-ending injury last spring while also bringing in Miami transfer Isaiah Horton (6-4, 209) this offseason.

Earlier this week, head coach Kalen DeBoer said that the added length in the receiver room will allow Alabama to be more flexible with how it uses Williams, giving him more opportunities to work inside. According to PFF, Williams spent 553 snaps on the perimeter compared to 120 in the slot during his freshman year.

“It’s just fun to be able to do everything on the football field,” Williams said. “The fact that he’s allowing me to inside, outside, just open up my varieties to what I can do in the game.”

Despite his production, Williams hit somewhat of a freshman wall during his debut season, eclipsing the 50-yard mark just twice over his final six games. Entering his second year with the program, he feels he’s more adept at managing the rigors of the college game.

“Going through the season, of course there’s going to be ups and downs,” Williams said. “So just throughout the season, the biggest thing that I learned was understanding when my body was trying to tell me something. Cause I’m telling you the student-athlete life is not an easy task. There’s class, football, everything. So just understanding when to take time to rehab your body and making sure to be efficient with all your time.

Along with managing the physical side of his game, Williams said he’s working on improving his route running and leadership. It’s all part of the big plans the star receiver has heading into the fall.

“I feel I could have done a lot better,” Williams said of his debut season. “I left some plays out there, but that’s part of the journey. It was all right, but we’re looking on to bigger and better things.”

Topics

What's next for Ryan Williams? Alabama football wide receiver previews sophomore season

The expectations for Ryan Williams' sophomore season with Alabama football remain high.
Yahoo Sports - 15h
What Ryan Williams thinks about Alabama football quarterback battle

Here's what Ryan Williams said about Ty Simpson, Austin Mack and Keelon Russell in Alabama football's quarterback battle.
Yahoo Sports - 18h
Will Ryan Williams vs Jeremiah Smith rivalry continue in 2025? What Alabama football WR said

The rivalry between Alabama football wide receiver Ryan Williams and the rest of the 2024 recruiting class remains strong.
Yahoo Sports - 2h
Auburn Basketball swats Alabama State in March Madness, advances to NCAA second round

Miles Kelly welcomed himself to March Madness with a roar on Thursday, leading Auburn to a big win over Alabama State.
Yahoo Sports - 13h
Alabama basketball guard Mark Sears named AP All-American for second-straight season

Alabama Crimson Tide guard Mark Sears was named an AP All-American for the second-straight season Tuesday, receiving First Team honors.
Yahoo Sports - 1d
Mike Vrabel to Milton Williams: Hope you're ready to play more

Defensive tackle Milton Williams made a big impact for the Eagles in Super Bowl LIX without being on the field all that much.
Yahoo Sports - Mar. 14
Ryan Kalkbrenner rallies Creighton past DePaul 85-81 in 2OT in Big East Tournament quarterfinal

Ryan Kalkbrenner had 32 points and scored the go-ahead basket in the second overtime after Creighton scored the final 11 points in regulation.
Yahoo Sports - Mar. 14
Texas Longhorns hire Caleb Williams QB guru from Chicago Bears to coach Arch Manning

The Texas Longhorns have added Caleb Williams' former QB coach to mentor Arch Manning during the upcoming season.
Yahoo Sports - 15h
Sabres' Ryan McLeod Accomplishes Rare Stat In Big Performance

The Buffalo Sabres picked up an impressive 4-3 shootout win over the Vegas Golden Knights on March 15. The Sabres made the Golden Knights surrender 2-0 and 3-2 leads before winning this matchup, so ...
Yahoo Sports - 5d
Watkins scores 31 to lead No. 2 USC past Indiana 84-79 and into the Big Ten Tournament semifinals

JuJu Watkins scored 31 points, Kiki Iriafen added 21 and each grabbed 10 rebounds in their first Big Ten Tournament games, leading No. 2 Southern California to an 84-79 victory over Indiana
ABC News - Mar. 7
HPU women set sights on William & Mary in NCAA Tournament

HIGH POINT — For the second time in five years, High Point University will play in the NCAA Tournament. The Panthers, champions of the Big South women’s basketball tournament, will face William & ...
Yahoo Sports - 2d
LOOK: Leaked EA Sports 'College Football 26' cover photo features coaches, including Kirby Smart and Ryan Day

Jeremiah Smith, Ryan Williams and DJ Lagway are among the players in the photo
CBS Sports - Mar. 13
No. 16 seed Colorado deals No. 8 seed WVU's NCAA hopes a blow with 67-60 Big 12 tourney win

Elijah Malone scored 12 of his 14 points in the second half, helping No. 16 seed Colorado beat eighth-seeded West Virginia 67-60 in the second round of the Big 12 Tournament on Wednedsay
ABC News - Mar. 12
Closer look at Gonzaga guard Ryan Nembhard's passing clinic this season

Mar. 15—Ryan Nembhard's 22 assists and just two turnovers in wins over then No. 8 Baylor and Arizona State in the season's first two games was a strong indication Gonzaga's point guard was primed ...
Yahoo Sports - 5d
WATCH: Late dunk by Creighton's Jamiya Neal leads to scuffle in Bluejays' win vs. UConn in Big East Tournament

There was pushing and shoving after the jam that led to technical fouls in the final seconds of the Big East Tournament semifinals
CBS Sports - 6d
Iowa fires Fran McCaffery: Longtime coach out after Hawkeyes miss NCAA Tournament for second straight season

Iowa finished 12th in the Big Ten in the regular season, the worst during the 15-year McCaffery era
CBS Sports - 6d
Ireland defence must 'hugely step up' - Ryan

Ireland second row James Ryan says Ireland's defence will need to be much better in Saturday's concluding Six Nations match against Italy.
Yahoo Sports - Mar. 14
Roche takes big step in weight-loss field with $5.3 billion deal. Novo Nordisk shares fall.

Swiss drugmaker Roche on Wednesday announced a major deal in the weight-loss category, agreeing to pay up to $5.3 billion to Zealand Pharma in a licensing and development deal.
MarketWatch - Mar. 12
Siakam scores 27 points and helps Pacers rally with big second half to beat the 76ers 112-100

Pascal Siakam scored 17 of his 27 points in the second half, and the Indiana Pacers beat the Philadelphia 76ers 112-100 on Friday night. Myles Turner added 18 points and seven rebounds, while ...
Yahoo Sports - 6d
Williams: Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins deals give Bengals fans hope for years to come

Williams: What do the Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins deals do for the Bengals? Give fans hope about winning a Super Bowl for years to come.
Yahoo Sports - 4d
Xavier hopes NCAA bubble doesn't burst after tough loss to No. 25 Marquette at Big East tourney

If the Xavier Musketeers get left out of the NCAA Tournament, they'll look back at Thursday as a missed opportunity. With a chance to earn a quality win over No. 25 Marquette in the Big East ...
Yahoo Sports - Mar. 13
World champ Meillard leads season's penultimate World Cup slalom ahead of Pinheiro Braathen

World champion Loic Meillard posted the fastest time in the opening run of the season's penultimate men's World Cup slalom Sunday as the Swiss skier hopes to boost his chances of winning the ...
Yahoo Sports - 5d
JT Toppin leads No. 9 Texas Tech past Baylor 76-74 in Big 12 Tournament

JT Toppin had 26 points and 10 rebounds to lift No. 9 Texas Tech to a 76-74 victory over Baylor in the Big 12 Tournament quarterfinals on Thursday night. Darrion Williams scored 14 points and ...
Yahoo Sports - Mar. 14
Romania bans second far-right hopeful from presidential election rerun

Diana Șoșoacă’s exclusion follows expulsion of front-runner Călin Georgescu from race amid rising tension around poll. Romania’s electoral commission on Saturday excluded a second far-right ...
The Guardian - 5d
Texas WR Ryan Wingo undergoes LASIK surgery ahead of spring football

Anwar Richardson reported that Texas WR Ryan Wingo underwent LASIK ahead of the Spring season to correct his vision.
Yahoo Sports - 6d
Iowa State women's basketball guard Emily Ryan breaks Big 12 career assists record

In the Cyclones' First Four NCAA Tournament win vs. Princeton, Iowa State women's basketball's Emily Ryan broke the Big 12's career assists record.
Yahoo Sports - 1d
Neal's 19 lead Creighton over UConn 71-62 in Big East Conference Tournament

Jasen Green and Jamiya Neal each scored 19 points in second-seeded Creighton's 71-62 win over No. 3-seed UConn on Friday in the semifinals of the Big East Conference Tournament. Creighton, the No. ...
Yahoo Sports - 6d
Marlins pitcher Ryan Weathers sidelined with forearm strain

Miami Marlins pitcher Ryan Weathers will begin the season on the injured list with a left forearm strain, another setback for the team's starting rotation. Weathers reported discomfort Tuesday, a ...
Yahoo Sports - 10h
Cowboys signing Javonte Williams: Dallas adding ex-Broncos RB to replace Rico Dowdle, per report

Williams can reportedly earn up to $3.5 million with incentives in Dallas
CBS Sports - Mar. 11
Cade Cunningham might not have called bank. His shot only added to Detroit's turnaround season

Cade Cunningham insisted he called bank. Cunningham's banked-in 3-pointer with 0.6 seconds left was the difference in the Pistons' 116-113 win over the reeling Miami Heat on Wednesday night. ...
Yahoo Sports - 1d
Ducks Ryan Strome Speaks on Pair of Viral Incidents

Forward Ryan Strome is in the midst of his best season as a member of the Anaheim Ducks. After notching back-to-back 41-point seasons in 2022-23 and 2023-24, he has 37 points (10-27=37) through his ...
Yahoo Sports - 6d
Bracketology Bubble Watch: It's crunch time for NCAA Tournament hopefuls as regular season comes to a close

Jerry Palm breaks down this weekend's games involving teams on the bubble to make the Big Dance
CBS Sports - Mar. 8
Jacobelli explains how Milan fans expected more after winter recruitment

AC Milan were very active in the winter mercato, leading many to feel excited about the chances of a good second half of the season. However, this has not been the case. Making big signings in ...
Yahoo Sports - 4d
Texas squanders second-half lead in 86-80 loss to Xavier in First Four

Xavier big man Zach Freemantle scored six points in the final 1:48 to propel the Musketeers to an 86-80 win over Texas in the First Four of the men's NCAA Tournament on Wednesday at UD Arena in ...
Yahoo Sports - 1d
Dan Hurley, after a difficult season, sees a path for UConn to three-peat

The countdown to March Madness is on. UConn got off to a rough start this year, but Coach Dan Hurley hopes to lead the team to a third straight title.
CBS News - Mar. 9
Nolan Winter and John Tonje lead No. 18 Wisconsin over Northwestern 70-63

Nolan Winter and John Tonje each scored 18 points to lead No. 18 Wisconsin to a 70-63 victory over Northwestern in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament
ABC News - Mar. 13
How the miracle of March Madness shined its light on Alabama State basketball with last second win

How the miracle of March Madness shined light on Alabama State basketball with last-second win to give the Hornets their first NCAA Tournament victory.
Yahoo Sports - 2d
Jalen Milroe runs 40 yards in 4.37 seconds at Alabama's Pro Day

Quarterback Jalen Milroe took part in Alabama's Pro Day workout on Wednesday and he showed he has some serious speed.
Yahoo Sports - 1d
Caleb Williams played a role in Grady Jarrett signing with Bears

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams continues to be a big draw for newcomers.
Yahoo Sports - Mar. 14