Ryan Williams updates his name, changes jersey number

Ryan Williams may be looking to reinvent himself in 2026, updating his name and changing his jersey numbers ahead of his third season with the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Williams will now go by Ryan Coleman-Williams and wear No. 1. He is taking the last name of both of his parents by adding Coleman to his name. His mother’s name is Tiffany Coleman, and his father’s name is Ryan Williams Sr.

The former five-star sported the No. 1 as a star high school football player at Saraland High School in Alabama. He went with No. 2 upon arriving at Alabama as a 17-year-old true freshman.

Williams had what many would have described as an underwhelming season compared to what many expected him to do in 2025. However, he remained a solid wide receiver for much of the season. He finished the year with 689 receiving yards and four touchdowns.

Some are high on Williams’ ability to have a bounce-back season. Heisman Trophy winner, Mark Ingram is one of those people.

“I’m a big fan of Ryan Williams,” Ingram said on the “Glory Daze” podcast. “He kind of took a step back in his production and performance. You saw him coming around towards the end of the season. He made some tough contested catches versus Indiana. I saw him versus Oklahoma. He was running down covering a punt as a gunner. You never heard the kid complaining, never heard him doing nothing. He just kept working. He kept trying to do whatever he could to help the team win. I’m a big fan of him. I’m rooting for him, and I know he’s going to have a bigger year this year.”

Williams and Alabama will return to the field for spring practice next week.