Tennessee is certainly aware of Alabama’s youngest offensive weapon. Receiver Ryan Williams is already a household name in college football circles and he’s not even old enough to vote.
“He’s a really explosive player,” Tennessee safety Will Brooks said of Bama’s freshman sensation that is still just 17-years-old. “He does a great job tracking the ball in the air. We gotta know where he’s lined up and make sure that we contain him all game.”
That’s easier said than done. Williams is the third-leading receiver in the SEC with 96 yards per game. He is tied for the lead in the conference with six touchdown receptions this season. His average of 25 yards per catch is tops in the nation. Moreover, Williams has turned in a handful of highlight reel plays this season that have been nothing short of spectacular.
While Brooks will be in charge of limiting Williams and Alabama’s receivers, he’ll also have to be mindful of Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe, who is one of the most physical and athletic quarterbacks in the SEC.
“It definitely makes it a lot harder, just knowing that any given moment he can escape the pocket and extend the play,” Brooks said of Milroe, who is averaging 53 yards per game rushing. “So just making sure we stay in coverage longer and keep our eyes on our man until the play ends, but, yeah, it just adds another element to their offense.”
Milroe isn’t just a runner. The junior leads the SEC in passer rating (191), has thrown 12 touchdowns, is completing 73-percent of his passes and has only thrown four interceptions this season, despite throwing two last week in a 27-25 win over South Carolina. Milroe was certainly off against the Gamecocks. He also was called for an intentional grounding penalty in the end zone, which resulted in a safety. However, if things break down, Milroe knows where to go with the ball. Williams is the answer.
Williams has caught 23 passes for 552 yards this season. It’s too bad for the Vols that there isn’t an age restriction to play college football.
Alabama’s football season has been full of ups and downs. The Crimson Tide began the season by hammering Western Kentucky and South Florida by a combined score of 105-16. Then, Alabama went on the road and beat Wisconsin 42-10. Then, the Crimson Tide held off Georgia 41-34 in an epic game that seemed to prove Bama was still championship worthy after Nick Saban’s retirement following the 2023 season. However, things have since gone awry under first-year Alabama coach Kalen Deboer.
Alabama lost to Vanderbilt 40-35 for the first time in 40 years. Then, when they were expected to bounce back in a big way, Deboer’s crew nearly slipped up and lost to the Gamecocks.
Unpredictable. Yeah, you could say that.
