Tony’s take: No one needs a new year more than Ryan Williams

Ryan Williams isn’t considering a change of scenery as he enters the final games of what has been an underwhelming sophomore season. That being said, it’s hard to imagine anyone who needs the fresh start of a new year more than the star receiver.

The past year hasn’t gone to plan for Williams, who broke onto the scene as a 17-year-old phenom in 2024 before gracing the cover of the EA Sports College Football 26 video game. Fortunately for Alabama, that won’t result in the sophomore testing the transfer waters this offseason.

“I’m Alabama through and through,” Williams told AL.com’s Nick Kelly during Tuesday’s Rose Bowl Media Day. “I have no intentions of being anywhere else.”

Any Alabama fans not doing cartwheels over that announcement are out of their crimson-loving minds.

Sure, Williams’ stock has hit an all-time low at the moment. The five-star receiver hasn’t reached the 50-yard mark through the air in any of his last six games. That includes an Iron Bowl where he wasn’t even targeted. Who would have imagined that from the state of Alabama’s only two-time Mr. Football winner? Unlike his highlight-filled freshman season, there’s been more discussion over Williams’ team-high 10 drops than any of the catches the star receiver has hauled in during the current campaign.

Still, anyone sleeping on the Saraland native is in for a rude awakening.

Maybe that resurgence won’t happen during Thursday’s Rose Bowl when Alabama takes on an Indiana team that boasts a top-20 pass defense. However, I wouldn’t totally count out that possibility.

Despite limiting Ohio State’s offense in a 13-10 win over the Buckeyes in the Big Ten Championship Game, Indiana’s defense allowed fellow EA Sports cover boy Jeremiah Smith to pull off eight receptions for 144 yards. Why can’t Williams put up similar numbers against the Hoosiers?

Sure, Williams hasn’t been great against elite secondaries this season. In four games against top-40 defenses — Missouri (No. 11), Florida State (No. 28) and Oklahoma (34) — he has just nine combined catches for 80 yards.

But that was 2025. When the clock strikes midnight, we’ll all be turning a new page. For Williams, the party in Times Square is one ball drop he can celebrate.

Williams’ sophomore frustrations may wash away in the new year. It’s not like the star receiver hasn’t already demonstrated his ability to perform on the big stage. He’s still the same playmaker who pirouetted his way through highlight reels last season. In three games against top-40 defenses in 2024 — Missouri (No. 18), Tennessee (No. 29) and Georgia (No. 38) — he combined for 303 yards and two touchdowns on 18 catches.

“He’s going to have a game like he’s had at different times where he goes off, and I’m just waiting for that moment because when it is, it’s going to be awesome,” Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer said Tuesday. “And we’re all going to be super happy for him. And I know that it’s coming sooner than later.”

Despite his struggles, Williams still ranks second on the team with 43 receptions for 636 yards over 13 games. While that pales in comparison to the 865 yards he posted through the air over the same span of games last season, the second chapter of his Alabama career isn’t done just yet. And no one is going to remember the earlier frustrations if Williams bounces back to spur Alabama to its 19th title with a spectacular three-game stretch over the next month.

It will be a new year and, more importantly, an opportunity for a new mindset for Williams. But make know mistake, the same No. 2 is stepping out on the field.

Like DeBoer said, sooner or later, that’s going to mean good news for Alabama.