Alabama legends give Ryan Williams advice ahead of potential bounce back junior season

Gary Cosby Jr. - USA TODAY Sports

No one is more excited to hit the reset button for 2025 and start fresh than a former five-star prospect for the University of Alabama football program.

Ryan Williams is embracing all things new in his third year. 

Ryan Williams updates his name, changes jersey number

He has changed his name – Ryan Coleman-Williams – and returned to number (No. 1) from Saraland High School. The Mobile (Ala.) native credits his faith, family, and teammates for keeping him grounded, regardless of an up-and-down sophomore campaign.

Williams had an issue with dropping passes, but the Crimson Tide’s offensive coaching staff is more than confident that he’s cleaned it up.

He is now in a leadership role and has an opportunity to create value for the 2027 NFL Draft.

Williams finished last year with 49 receptions for 689 yards and four touchdowns; however, two Alabama legends provided the biggest advice for him in gearing up for a potential bounce back season in the coming fall.

AJ McCarron and Trent Richardson want Williams to succeed.

Will Ryan Coleman-Williams bounce back after an up-and-down sophomore season? #rolltide pic.twitter.com/R46S3IBCNL

— THE DYNASTY (@TheDynastyBAMA) March 16, 2026

“Sophomore slump is a great reset for him to get back to the basics and get back to work on things he knows and everyone else knows he needs to get better at,” McCarron said of Williams on The Dynasty podcast. “I think it is a great thing for him. I think that down year will be more positive going into this year than ever before.”

Richardson, the Doak Walker Award winner in 2011, wants Williams to return to the aspects that propelled him to Tuscaloosa (Ala.) as a five-star athlete.

Will Ryan Williams bounce back from his sophomore slump in 2026?

“When it comes to Ryan, he is a general now,” Richardson said.  “This is his third year. He has been a starter since his freshman year. The athleticism is there. … He has all of that. Like man, do what you do. Play your game to the best of your ability.”

Amari Cooper, a former Tide legend, can empathize with Williams.

The Miami (Fla.) native had a rough sophomore season for Alabama in 2013 because of a toe injury.

Cooper, like Williams, dazzled as a freshman in 2012 – catching 59 passes for 1,000 yards and 11 touchdowns.

He earned several individual accolades and helped the Crimson Tide to a BCS National Championship. Cooper had good numbers in 2013 – 45 catches, 736 yards, and four touchdowns – but it was not his freshman form.

He bounced back in his junior year, becoming the dependable weapon for first-year starting quarterback – Blake Sims.

Cooper recorded 124 catches for 1,727 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2014.

He put together a single-season school record for yards and touchdowns, until DeVonta Smith surpassed him in 2020.

Cooper still has the single-season record for receptions, though.

Williams has a chance to do what Cooper did, but he has to take advantage of it.

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Stephen M. Smith is a team writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine.  You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.