How Alabama plans to use attention Ryan Williams garners to open up offense

Alabama football plans to move Ryan Williams around in its offense more than it did a year ago when he was a true freshman.

Williams exploded onto the scene as a 17-year-old last season. He returns to college football in year two as not only one of the best players on the Crimson Tide’s roster, but one of the best players in the sport. This notoriety comes with its fair amount of attention off the field and on it.

It is no secret teams will be game planning to stop Williams throughout the 2025 season. The Tide look to want to use this to their advantage.

The former five-star hinted at this during his most recent media availability when asked about the different ways he will be used in the upcoming season in comparison to 2024.

“The only difference between year one and year two, I mean year one, I moved around a little bit, this year I have opportunity to affect in different ways, whether that’s in or out, just helping out more guys,” Williams said.

Helping out more guys may be one of Williams’ biggest strengths this fall.

Ryan Grubb’s offense at Washington thrived off the Huskies’ wide receivers helping create space for one another with his impressive concepts.

Kalen DeBoer has previously stated Williams will play more in the slot this season, while still taking snaps out wide on the perimeter of the Alabama offense. The slot is where Williams feels he can really open things up for his fellow wideouts.

“I really get to, because on the outside, you’re just focusing on the perimeter, because that’s a whole other battle,” Williams recently told reporters. “You have the box and the guys on that side of the field and on the outside, whenever you just have that one-on-one, that’s a whole other battle that people really don’t understand. But whenever I’m in the slot, I get to see the whole field and really get to get an opportunity to help the guy right beside me and really be a part of the play  and not just be a one-on-one perimeter guy.

The Alabama offense could be exciting to watch this fall and Williams could be a huge part of this whether he has the ball or not.