$2.3M Ryan Williams Turns Tradition to Profit as Alabama WR Announces Billion-Dollar NIL Move

It has become hard to talk about college football without the mention of NIL deals these days. From deals with Lamborghini to receiving acres of land as part of the college pack, everything is on the table for the collegiate athletes. So when Alabama’s standout wide receiver Ryan Williams dropped an update about his latest NIL deal, it was hardly a surprise, but he may have to thank his sister for that.

Williams was one of the few bright spots in the post-Nick Saban chaos for Alabama that unfolded under Kalen DeBoer. His breakout game in Georgia led to a doubling of his NIL value and he used the occasion of his 18th birthday to announce his new deal with nail polish brand, “Sally Hansen.”

Adorning his nails with a stylish black polish, took to Instagram to announce, “Now I’m all ready to enjoy my birthday and the big game,” flexing his nail color. The deal comes after Williams made it a tradition to paint his nails before games during his freshman season.

Throughout the 2024 season, he has been changing nail colors to match various themes, such as orange for Tennessee and green to match his suit — making it part of his signature look. It is likely that he will continue to show them off more in his sophomore with this new NIL deal.

This tradition, however, goes back to his high school. During an October 2024, episode of Hey Coach! Show with Kalen DeBoer, he revealed how his sister was able to convince him to embrace the style.

“My little sister she decided that she really liked doing nails. And first, she started with my mom. And she wanted to try on me. So, I was just like, I’m comfortable in my own skin. It didn’t really bother me. I think the first time it was just clear. Now she’s gotten so much better, every week,” Williams mentioned.

Now, he is capitalizing on something that has always been his thing just like Duke’s Jared McCain, who signed with the same brand last year, when he was playing basketball at Duke.

Now, he is capitalizing on something that has always been his thing just like Duke’s Jared McCain, who signed with the same brand last year. And let’s be real, “Hollywood” has earned every ounce of the spotlight. As his freshman season wasn’t just good; it was must-watch television.

Williams had an impressive freshman season at Alabama where he recorded 48 catches, 865 yards, and eight touchdowns, earning himself recognition as a Freshman All-American. Ranked 11th in the SEC for receiving yards and 10th in yards per game, Williams didn’t just break out; he arrived.

Nicknamed, “Hollywood,” Williams’ performance against Georgia was the perfect exclamation point. He torched their secondary defense with six catches, amassing an impressive 177 yards and scoring a touchdown. With 12 million viewers tuned in, he transformed a simple catch into a viral moment, showcasing his agility by spinning in mid-air, snatching the ball, spinning again, and leaving two Georgia defenders in his wake as he sprinted 75 yards for a touchdown.

This propelled his NIL valuation to new heights, skyrocketing to a staggering $1.5 million overnight from an earlier evaluation of  $700k. He jumped from sitting outside the top 80 at No. 14 on the list.

Ryan Williams’ extravagant NIL deals

Some guys run routes, others run up the bag — Ryan Williams does both. Walking into the 2024 season this 17-year-old prodigy boasts an impressive NIL valuation of $768K. Following his performance against Georgia and the deals he signed later his current NIL valuation sits at $2.3 million.

While some players rely on collective endorsements, Williams has secured lucrative deals with heavy hitters like Uber Eats, Hollister, and most recently, Nintendo and Epic Games. However, Williams doesn’t settle for mediocrity. When others were immersed in the joy of gaming, he had a bigger flex right in front of him — a partnership with Epic Games, a company valued at a whopping $22.5 billion.

And don’t be fooled; this is no ordinary deal. On February 6th, Alabama defensive back Jaylen Mbakwe‘s Instagram reel seemingly confirmed Williams’ new contract saying “When running Fortnite on Nintendo Switch, you know we locked in #EpicPartner #NintendoPartner @fortnite.”

In the clip, he asked Williams, “What are you playing the whole time, bruh?” The WR, glued to his screen, fired back, “I’m playing a game, bruh.” Mbakwe, never missing a chance to talk trash, shot back, “You gonna die anyway.”

Now as he embarks on the new season under Kalen DeBoer once again, we eagerly anticipate what more awaits him both on and off the field.