Alabama football Heisman Trophy winner tells why he ‘knows’ Ryan Williams will have big year in 2026

Alabama football’s Heisman Trophy winner and Fox College Football analyst Mark Ingram feels the way Ryan Williams ended the 2025 season is a positive sign for the Crimson Tide.

Williams’ sophomore season did not live up to what many thought it would be. However, he remained an overall solid wide receiver for the Crimson Tide. The former five-star finished the season with 689 receiving yards and four touchdowns.

In Alabama’s final game of the season, Williams finished the game with 53 yards on six receptions. This was his best performance amongst the Tide’s finals seven games. The performance included one of the toughest catches Williams has ever made. He pulled in a reception while taking a big hit against the eventual National Champions, Indiana.

Ingram likes what he saw from Williams on and off the field to end the season.

“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 looks to take the first step toward a bounce-back season in spring practice next week.