Ryan Williams Personal News Emerges After Down Year

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Hugh Green | Last updated Mar 6, 2026 11:23 AM ET

Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Ryan Williams has electrified the college football landscape since coming to the Southeastern Conference powerhouse in 2024. He was a five-star recruit coming out of Saraland High School in Alabama and was ranked as the No. 1 wideout in the country by ESPN.

He burst onto the scene his freshman year with the Crimson Tide, hauling in 48 receptions in 13 games for 865 yards and eight touchdowns. Williams also ran for 48 yards and two more scores on the ground.

However, after the deep-ball threat receiver was Alabama's leader in reception yards and touchdowns his freshman year, his numbers took a turn for the worse in 2025.

Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Ryan Williams (2) against the Georgia Bulldogs.© Brett Davis-Imagn Images

As a sophomore, Williams caught more passes than he did the year before, with 49 receptions, but his yardage and touchdown numbers dropped, as he totaled 689 receiving yards and just four touchdowns. He also wasn't a weapon in the ground game, carrying the ball just twice for 21 yards.

This was a down year for the five-star recruit who was looking to prove himself as one of, if not the best, wide receivers in the country last season.

On Friday, ahead of his junior year, Alabama announced some personal changes coming for Williams in 2026.

"Alabama WR Ryan Williams has a new name and jersey number," said On3 reporter Charlie Potter. "He is now Ryan Coleman-Williams and will wear No. 1 this season."

Alabama WR Ryan Williams has a new name and jersey number.

He is now Ryan Coleman-Williams and will wear No. 1 this season.

Plus, more Tide jersey changes:

https://t.co/jtwF4I3w8J pic.twitter.com/QwN6jB8rFT
— Charlie Potter (@Charlie_Potter) March 6, 2026

He had the name Coleman-Williams written on his eyeblack last season against the Tennessee Volunteers and was asked about it after the game.

"It’s both of my last names," he said in October. "I just wanted to represent. That’s pretty much it."

The Coleman comes from his mother, Tiffany Coleman, and will now have both of his parents' last names on the back of his jersey, along with the No. 1 rather than No. 2, which he has donned the past two years.

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

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