The comparisons to an Alabama football legend and a National Football League legend keep coming for a five-star freshman with the Crimson Tide.
Ryan Williams, a talented wide receiver, got compared to Julio Jones on a podcast that featured former Tide quarterback Jacob Coker and Mick Gillespie. Coker, who played for Alabama from 2014 to 2015, transferred to the Crimson Tide from Florida State University in the summer of 2014. After sitting behind Blake Sims, the Mobile (Ala.) native got his opportunity in 2015 and guided the team to a College Football Playoff National Championship. Coker said Williams is Kalen DeBoer’s version of Jones.
“He’s Kalen DeBoer’s Julio Jones.” – Jake Coker on the domino effect of Ryan Williams’ signing with Alabama. @RealJakeCoker @BroadcasterMick @Ryanwms1@MyBookie pic.twitter.com/1ngv8y2gLU
— Disrupt Media (@DisruptTheMedia) June 30, 2024
“You bring in guys like Ryan Williams and he seems like another high character guy,” Coker said. “He gets after it from what I heard, getting after it in the weight room, at workouts, and taking the extra time to recruit guys. He has been there for a few months and is already recruiting the next class. It says a lot about him and the overall effort from everybody in the building.”
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Coker and Gillespie both feel that Williams’ recommitment and signing with the Tide jump started Alabama’s success on the recruiting trail under DeBoer. When the Tide landed Jones in 2008, it started a successful run of national championships and top-ranked signing classes.
Williams knows the expectation of Alabama football and wants that expectation to be the best. Alabama fans can’t wait to see him put on a show in the fall.
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Stephen M. Smith is the senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
