Ryan Williams Named Alexander Award Player of the Week

© Gary Cosby Jr.-Imagn Images

Alabama freshman wide receiver phenom Ryan Williams has become must-see viewing for college football fans across the country. Already boasting a handful of highlight-reel catches and touchdown runs for the newly No. 1-ranked Crimson Tide (4-0, 1-0 Southeastern Conference), the electrifying 17-year-old put his stamp on the young season with yet another highlight-reel touchdown catch and run with time winding down in a wild game to give Alabama a 41-34 victory over the then-No. 2 Georgia Bulldogs (3-1, 1-1) on Sept. 28 in Tuscaloosa, Ala. 

Along with his 75-yard game-winning score, Williams caught 6 passes for 177 yards against Georgia and was named the Week 5 Shaun Alexander Award Player of the Week by the Maxwell Football Club on Oct. 1.

Game-Winning Catch

Long touchdowns have been Williams’ calling card so far this season with TD catches of 84 yards, 55 yards, 43 yards and 31 yards, but none might end up being bigger than what some might consider the early favorite for the “Catch of the Year” against the Bulldogs.

After Georgia had fought back from a 28-0 deficit to take a 34-33 lead with 2:31 left in the game, Williams—who had 5 catches for 102 yards up to that point—made Bryant-Denny Stadium explode with excitement after catching a deep pass from quarterback Jalen Milroe between two defenders. He then eluded the same two defenders with a spin move to break open for the 75-yard score with 2:18 left in the game. Alabama sealed the victory on the next drive as defensive back Zabian Brown intercepted a Carson Beck pass in the end zone with 43 seconds left. 

“I did a spin move and it was like in slow motion,” Williams said after the game. “It looked faster on the screen.”

For the Season

In just five games this season, the true freshman has 16 receptions for 462 yards (28.9 yards per catch) and 5 touchdowns. Williams could be potentially building a case for this year’s Heisman Trophy with his explosiveness and ability to run after the catch. 

© John David Mercer-Imagn Images

For comparison, the last Alabama wide receiver to win the Heisman—DeVonta Smith in 2021—had 38 catches for 483 yards and 4 touchdowns through his first four games of 2021. 

The Crimson Tide will travel to Nashville, Tenn., to take on the Vanderbilt Commodores (2-2, 0-1) on Oct. 5 and then will be back at Bryant-Denny Stadium to take on the South Carolina Gamecocks (3-1, 1-1) on Oct. 12.

The Shaun Alexander Award

One of the Maxwell Football Club’s most prestigious awards, the Shaun Alexander Award is presented to the best freshman player in college football each year. Originally named the College Football Freshman Player of the Year Award, the award was established in 2019. The inaugural winner was quarterback Trevor Lawrence of Clemson, while former Alabama and current Ohio State defensive back Caleb Downs won the award in 2023.