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

Ryan Williams is no longer 17.

"Eighteen is treating me real nice," the Alabama football wide receiver told reporters Thursday. "I'm enjoying it. Just trying to grow as an individual. It's fun."

And Williams is not looking back much, back at his breakout freshman season where he led the Crimson Tide with 865 receiving yards and eight touchdown receptions.

But when Williams was asked to grade his first Alabama season, a season he said had its share of ups and downs, learning how to navigate the rigorous schedule of a student-athlete, he didn't say what he expected people around him to say.

"People are going to say it was solid, good. I think I could have done a lot better," Williams said. "Left some plays out there, but that's part of the journey. It was alright, but we're looking on to bigger and better things."

Williams is taking the "bigger" things literally.

In his first spring practice with the Crimson Tide, Williams said he's getting bigger — "if y'all can't tell," he said with a grin — so that he can make a bigger impact as a blocker, returning the favor for those blocks he got from his teammates a year ago.

Blocking is just one thing Williams is fixated on this spring, adding that he can "never not get better at running routes," while also honing his leadership skills.

Williams seems ready for a bit of a change in what he could do for the Alabama offense under coordinator Ryan Grubb, who said he plans to use Williams on both the inside and outside, showcasing the receiver's versatility.

"It's just fun to be able to do everything on the football field," Williams said. "So the fact that he's allowing me to (be) inside, outside, just opens up my variety to what I can do in the game. It's very fun."

Nov 30, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Ryan Williams (2) has a pass in the end zone slip through his hands as he is defended by Auburn cornerback Jay Crawford (23) during the Iron Bowl game between Alabama and Auburn at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-Imagn Images

All in all, Williams said his first Alabama spring practice has been exciting. He's eager to improve, to compete. But he's eager to see the picture that is the Crimson Tide's 2025 story come into view.

"Just mold a team that I can really say I helped mold going into the season," Williams said.

Alabama will end its spring practice schedule at noon April 12 in its annual A Day spring game at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at cgay@gannett.com or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Ryan Williams previews Alabama football sophomore season

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