Alabama football player Ryan Williams' ranking in ESPN's top 100 athletes list?
In an unexpected turn of events, the 2025 graduating class at Alabama marked a notable milestone, becoming the first in almost two decades not to win a national championship during their time in Tuscaloosa. Despite this setback, the Alabama football programme is looking forward to a bounce-back year in 2025.
One of the key players expected to contribute significantly to this comeback is freshman wide receiver, Ryan Williams. Williams, who emerged as one of the most dominant players in college football at the tender age of 17 last season, has been praised by sports analysts, including Chris Low of ESPN.com.
Williams, known for his explosive plays on deep passes and his ability to make things happen after the catch, had a torrid start to the 2024 season, scoring five touchdowns in the first four games. He also caught the game-winning touchdown pass against Georgia in a thrilling matchup last September, after the Bulldogs had overcome a massive deficit.
ESPN ranked Williams at number 12 on their annual list of the top 100 players in college football. If he were eligible for the NFL draft, he would likely be a first-round pick. However, his participation in the 2025 season is currently uncertain due to a recent lower-body injury that is still being evaluated by the coaching staff.
Kalen DeBoer, the Alabama football head coach, has named Ty Simpson as the starting quarterback for the 2025 season. Simpson spent the last two seasons as an understudy to Jalen Milroe and found sporadic playing time. Meanwhile, the player currently determined by Coach DeBoer as a starter, who has been active in the team for an extended period, is Tim Keenan.
The Alabama football team missed the playoff in 2024, despite a new 12-team format. They will look to turn things around when they open the 2025 season against the Florida State Seminoles on August 30. With one of the most talented rosters in college football, including Williams, they are certainly equipped to make a strong comeback.
