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Ryan Williams Honored By Hometown After Being Named Cover Athlete For EA Sports CFB 26

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By J.C. Shelton | Last updated May 28, 2025 5:52 PM ET

Alabama star Ryan Williams will represent the Crimson Tide on the cover of EA Sports College Football 26.

The popular video game is inching closer to a released date, and EA Sports gave fans a closer look at the new version this week.

Williams is one of two sophomore wide receivers donning the regular version cover, also including Ohio State All-American Jeremiah Smith.

EA Sports choosing Williams is a big deal. The 2025 version sits as the highest-selling sports video game of all-time, and the second edition of the renewed franchise is expected to be equally as popular.

The university and the state of Alabama have responded to the news by honoring Williams with billboards located in Tuscaloosa and Mobile, Williams' hometown, the school announced on Wednesday.

Before Williams was shaking cornerbacks with electric spin moves, he was a standout player in Saraland, Alabama, a suburb of Mobile.

Williams amassed over 3,000 receiving yards, 1,000-plus rushing yards and 71 total touchdowns for Saraland High School from 2021-24.

He became the first sophomore to win Alabama's Mr. Football award and was named the state's Gatorade Player of the Year for two consecutive seasons.

"Hey, that's me," Williams said in the video reveal. "That's crazy, dog. My first ever billboard."

T-Town & Mobile be on the lookout @Ryanwms1 @EASPORTSCollege #CFB26 pic.twitter.com/wlTpg3sDhD
— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) May 28, 2025

Williams returns as one of the top young receivers in college football after earning Freshman All-America and First-Team All-SEC honors last season. The 6-foot-1, 175-pound wideout posted 48 catches for 865 yards with 10 total touchdowns in 13 games.

EA Sports College Football 26 is scheduled to release on July 10 before the Crimson Tide open 2025 season at Florida State on Aug. 30.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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