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ESPN analyst says Alabama freshman is ‘the next Amari Cooper’ after showing versus WKU

Alabama WR Ryan Williams (#2) celebrates a touchdown with QB Jalen Milroe (#4) in Crimson Tide's 2024 season opener vs. WKU.
Gary Cosby Jr. - USA Today Sports

The attention Ryan Williams is generating keeps growing.

Alabama’s talented freshman wide receiver made Freshman of the Week for the Southeastern Conference after an impressive debut in the Crimson Tide’s season opener versus Western Kentucky. He had two catches, both went for touchdowns.

RELATED: Why Kane Wommack was not satisfied with Alabama’s defense, regardless of shutting out WKU

Williams showed off his speed, explosiveness, routes, hands, and strength to break tackles on scores of 84 and 55 yards to a sellout crowd of over 100,000 fans at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

The 6-foot-1, 175-pounder had Matt Miller, an ESPN NFL Draft analyst, talking about him.

He also had another ESPN analyst compare him to a former All-American for the Crimson Tide.

“Ryan Williams is the next Amari Cooper, in my opinion,” Tom Luginbill said Monday on The Next Round Show.

Williams had a game-high 139 yards receiving, proving to everyone he is special as a former five-star.

Cooper, a native Miami, Fla., came to the University of Alabama as a four-star in the 2012 recruiting class. He recorded 1,000 yards receiving and 11 touchdowns on 58 catches as a freshman.

After he bounced back from an injury in 2013, Cooper torched defensive backs in 2014 with 124 catches for 1,727 yards and 16 touchdowns.

He won several awards in 2014 — including first-team All-SEC, SEC Offensive Player of the Year, Unanimous All-American, and the Fred Biletnikoff Award.

Cooper helped the Tide to a BCS National Championship as a freshman and became a first-round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft.

He was known for his maturity, route running, and smooth hands. Williams has these same attributes.

Alabama fans are excited to see what the product from Saraland (Ala.) High School does versus South Florida.

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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.

Stephen Smith is a 2015 graduate of the University of Alabama. He is a senior writer and reporter for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. He has covered Alabama football for 15 years and his knowledge and coverage of the Crimson Tide's program have made him among the most respected journalist in his field. Smith has been featured on ESPN and several other marquee outlets as an analyst.

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