Alright, let’s get real. Alabama football isn’t used to looking up at the scoreboard and seeing an L, let alone three of ‘em in a season. And after Nick Saban dipped, the world was waiting to see if Bama would still be Bama. Well, 9-3 in the regular season? Not exactly what Tuscaloosa is used to. But hold up—don’t get it twisted, the Tide isn’t drowning. And if you ask Ryan Williams, the young gun who took college football by storm before he was even old enough to vote, Alabama’s about to spin the block and pull up stronger than ever in 2025.

So what’s the move? On March 29, Williams and his guy Jaylen Mbakwe, both sophomore sensations, pulled up at Sand Mountain Amphitheater for a little fan love and some media talk. When asked what they were working on for year two, Williams didn’t sugarcoat it. “Just honing in on the small things and just truly enjoying the process,” he said, before dropping the real gem: “Just being more of a vocal leader. Last year, there were some times where I could have stepped up, and I feel like we would have had different outcomes in some games.” Translation? Bama left some Ws on the table and missed the playoffs, and Ryan Williams isn’t trying to let that slide again.

Now, let’s talk about the kid’s freshman campaign. Dude was just 17 years old, cooking SEC defenses like it was backyard football. 48 catches, 865 yards, and a game-winning touchdown against Georgia that had the whole stadium shook. But if you ask him? That ain’t even scratching the surface. “People are gonna say it was solid, good. I think I could have done a lot better,” Williams said. That’s some real sportsmanship right there. Most freshmen would be out here flexing those numbers—not this dude. He’s locked in on what’s next.

And what’s next is looking scary for anyone lined up against him. According to Touchdown Alabama Magazine, Williams’ offseason checklist includes one major thing: getting bigger. We ain’t talking about just adding a couple of protein shakes, either. This man is on a mission to bulk up, get stronger, and make sure DBs feel every bit of that impact when he’s out there blocking. “Definitely, you know, I’m getting a little bigger, if y’all can tell, just a little bit,” Williams joked. But he ain’t just lifting to lift—it’s about giving back to the squad. “My guys blocked for me, so just trying to return that favor down the field blocking.” 

Ryan Williams’ next move: Bigger and stronger in 2025

So here’s the deal. Williams ain’t just trying to be a star in 2025—he’s willing to be the guy. And new OC Ryan Grubb sees that vision. This ain’t just about throwing him the rock 10 times a game. Ryan Grubb’s got plans. Ryan Williams is about to be everywhere—slot, outside, in motion, whatever it takes to make defenses lose sleep. And if you’re wondering how he feels about it? “It’s just fun to be able to do everything on the football field. 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,” said Ryan Williams.

And look, versatility is nice and all, but Ryan Williams ain’t about to trade speed for strength. Bama’s strength and conditioning squad got him right, making sure he’s bulking up without losing that explosiveness that makes him a problem. “Here at Alabama, I feel like our strength and conditioning does an amazing job of helping me—I get to eat a lot of the things I was already eating, so it doesn’t make it feel like I’m just trying to put weight on. It’s actually enjoyable. And then balancing that with the weight room. It makes it to where I can continue to be explosive,” he said.

And that’s bad news for the rest of the SEC. Because if Williams was already cooking DBs as a wiry 17-year-old freshman, imagine what happens when he’s got some real grown-man strength behind him. He’s taking all those lessons from last year, every missed opportunity, every play he felt he could’ve done more on, and using it as fuel.

Bottom line? Alabama might’ve had some slip-ups last season, but with Williams stepping up as a leader, leveling up his game, and Grubb scheming new ways to get him the ball, 2025 is looking really different. So is everyone thinking that Bama’s reign is over? Yeah, go ahead and hold that thought.