EA college football video game helped Alabama players learn Kalen DeBoer’s offense

Alabama football’s wide receiver room had to learn a new offensive scheme last season in Kalen DeBoer’s inaugural campaign in Tuscaloosa and playing EA Sports College Football 25 was a helpful tool in them doing so, according to Ryan Williams.

Williams made this known Wednesday when he joined the ESPN College GameDay podcast with Rece Davis and reflected back on how playing the popular video game was helpful.

“It was super helpful,” Williams said. “I mean, you kinda underestimate how similar the playbooks are on the game to our actual playbook. Like I mean, it’s not word for word, bar for bar and there’s always different language, all type of stuff like that. But you can pretty much get it if you know all concepts. It’s all going to be pretty much the same concept. Just different verbiage, so you know it definitely helps. It does.”

Williams went on to have a stellar true freshman season the following fall for Alabama, ingratiating himself as the Tide’s top receiver after reeling in 48 catches for 8 touchdowns and 865 yards. Germie Bernard led the Crimson Tide in receptions with 50 catches to go along with two touchdowns while Rico Scott, Cole Adams, Kendrick Lawrence, Kobe Prentice, Emmanuel Henderson and Caleb Odom all combined for 33 total receptions, 453 yards and two scores in DeBoer’s offense in 2024.

Williams will be a key figure in the EA Sports newest video game release with the Alabama star receiver being one of the main star athletes to grace the cover of this year’s edition.