Ryan Williams | WR | Alabama | 2027 NFL Draft Eligible
Today, I wanted to discuss a player you’ll be hearing a lot about in your Devy and C2C leagues this coming fall. Alabama commit and incoming freshman Ryan Williams may legitimately be the best prospect in this 2024 high school class, at any position. If you hope to roster this kid on your Devy roster, you’ll be paying a hefty price. But don’t let that deter you; his stock will only continue to rise over the next three seasons. Williams has “future NFL superstar” written all over him. Let’s see what his game is all about.
Saraland High School
Williams’ high school numbers almost don’t even look real. First, I must point out that he only played three years of high school football. Why, you ask? Because this guy is so talented that he reclassified to the 2024 class after his junior season. He’s literally skipping his senior year of football to go play for the Crimson Tide as a 17-year-old. That tells us everything we need to know right there, but let’s dive into the numbers anyway.
Williams attended Saraland High School in Alabama and was a producer for all three seasons there. He finished his high school career with 4,332 scrimmage yards and 71 touchdowns. On top of that, he threw for 108 yards and three touchdowns.
Ryan’s most productive season was in 2022 as a sophomore. As a receiver, he finished the year with 88 receptions, 1641 yards, and 24 touchdowns. As a rusher, Williams tacked on 700 yards and 15 TDs as well. Just absurd production from a player that was only 15 years old at the time. This historic season earned him Alabama’s Gatorade Player of the Year award.
Needless to say, Williams was a 5-star prospect on every scouting site there is, including 247 Sports and ESPN. In the 2024 class, Williams is ranked as the #1 wide receiver and #3 prospect overall. Keep in mind, Ryan should be in the class of 2025. He JUST turned 17.
Skillset
As I alluded to earlier, Ryan Williams can do it all on the football field. He was utilized as both a receiver and rusher (mainly on end-around plays) and excelled in the return game as well. ESPN has Williams listed at 6’1″ and 170 lbs, but he is young enough that he should continue filling out his frame as he matures. He has a long wingspan and a large catch radius and displays impressive YAC ability. Williams has elite speed that makes him a vertical threat on every play and allows him to beat defenders to the sideline and cut it upfield. He’s very elusive in the open field, making single cuts on a dime to cross up defenders.
When I say Williams is fast, I mean he is next-level fast. He was also a track star in high school, posting a 10.49-second 100-yard dash at 15 years old. MaxPreps says that Williams’ 40-yard time is in the 4.3’s. Watching this young man on film, it almost looks like he’s gliding across the football field. His running style appears effortless, like he has the ability to kick it into an extra gear but doesn’t need to. I think Williams will need to improve his technique as a route runner, but that wasn’t necessary for him to get wide open in high school. His speed and athleticism gave him more than enough of an edge over his competition.
Competition
We know at Alabama, you’re going to be facing fierce competition to see the field. But looking at this 2024 WR corps, Williams has as fortuitous a situation as he could hope for in Year 1. Jermaine Burton was a senior and is entering the NFL Draft, and Isaiah Bond has transferred to Texas. Those two guys alone made up over 47% of the receiving production for Alabama in 2023. In addition, Malik Benson, who caught 13 balls for 162 yards last year, has transferred to Florida State.
Germie Bernard is coming to Tuscaloosa from Washington, where he posted a decent sophomore season, especially considering he was competing for targets alongside Rome Odunze, Jalen McMillan, and Ja’Lynn Polk. Besides that, Alabama has Jalen Hale and Kobe Prentice, both promising underclassmen who should carve out a decent role in this receiving game.
Projections
Considering Ryan Williams reclassified from the 2025 to the 2024 class, I think Alabama fully intends to get this kid out on the field immediately as a freshman. He may not have a significant role as a receiver in Year 1, but few Alabama receivers do. I think Williams will be utilized in the return game for the Crimson Tide, seeing as he is one of the fastest and most dynamic players in the country with the ball in his hands. Based on his film and how he profiles as a prospect, Williams is a lock to be a Round 1 draft pick in 2027 if he continues developing. I’ve seen comps to DeVonta Smith and Jameson Williams, and I really think he is a hybrid of the two. In your Devy startups and supplemental drafts this offseason, I would value this guy as the WR1 in the 2027 class and a Top 10 college receiver prospect for fantasy purposes. He has all the tools to live up to the hype.
Thank you for taking the time to read this article, and I hope you got some valuable information you can use for your fantasy team! If you’d like additional insight into Dynasty Football news and analysis, please follow me on Twitter at @jim_DFF. Until next time, keep grinding out there, DFF family! #DFFArmy #AlwaysBeBuilding
