Ryan Williams, born in the Nick Saban era, pirouettes into Crimson Tide lore: Is he the next Julio Jones?

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Heisman Trophy winner and Alabama legend Mark Ingram, ecstatic and smiling ear-to-ear, had to get a photo with him. 

Even after a gut-punch loss, Georgia head coach Kirby Smart sought him out to give him a big hug and tell him how good of a player he is.

Ryan Williams is only 17 years old — he was born a month after Alabama hired Nick Saban in 2007 — and he’s the new king of Tuscaloosa after a six-catch, 177-yard, one-touchdown performance powered No. 4 Alabama’s thrilling 41-34 win over No. 2 Georgia inside Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Williams saved the day on a “you have to watch it multiple times just to believe it” 75-yard touchdown play that allowed the Crimson Tide to fend off Georgia’s furious comeback efforts. Once up 28-0 in the first half, Alabama watched Georgia slowly claw its way back into the game before a stunning Carson Beck-to-Dillon Bell 67-yard touchdown pass that gave the Bulldogs their first lead of the night, 34-33, with only 2:31 left in the game. 

While panic may have quickly set in with the 100,077 fans who couldn’t believe what just transpired, Williams wasn’t nervous. He knew this was his opportunity to shine, the reason he came to Alabama to play for first-year head coach Kalen DeBoer. 

“If ain’t nobody else going to make a play, 2 gotta make a play,” Williams thought, referring of course to his uniform number. 

Williams did more than just make a play; he made the play of the young 2024 college football season. It was like watching a ballet dancer as he readjusted in the air to catch the football, did a slow motion spin move and then danced down the sideline past Georgia defenders for the touchdown. Williams credits teammates Germie Bernard and Jaylen Mbakwe for the fancy footwork — “My…

Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/ryan-williams-born-in-the-nick-saban-era-pirouettes-into-crimson-tide-lore-is-he-the-next-julio-jones/

Author : John Talty

Publish date : 2024-09-29 15:12:00

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