ALABAMA COACH KALEN DeBoer and quarterback Jalen Milroe aren’t the only ones thrilled that receiver Ryan Williams decided to forego his senior year of high school to join the Crimson Tide this season. So are the high school football coaches who competed against Williams, the only two-time Mr. Football in Alabama history, the previous three seasons.

“Somebody texted me and said, ‘I bet you’re glad Ryan Williams reclassified,'” said Ham Barnett, head coach at St. Paul’s Episcopal School in Mobile. “I told him my defensive backs were happy for sure.”

In three seasons at Saraland High School, just 10 miles north of Mobile, Williams had more than 4,400 yards of total offense and scored 76 touchdowns in 39 games — 47 receiving, 24 rushing, 1 passing and 4 on punt and kick returns.

Williams’ meteoric rise as a Crimson Tide freshman has been one of the top stories in the first half of the 2024 season.

Going into Saturday’s contest at No. 11 Tennessee (3:30 p.m. ET/ABC, ESPN+), Williams leads No. 7 Alabama with 23 catches for 576 yards with six touchdowns. His 25-yard average on receptions leads the FBS.

Those who watched him compete in youth leagues and high school aren’t that surprised by his instant impact.

“He would make plays that were not there, when you think you’ve got everything covered,” Barnett said. “He’d just make people miss. He was just a problem — a matchup nightmare for everybody. The things I see on Saturday are exactly what he was doing on Friday nights.”

Williams’ biggest moment so far came on Sept. 28 when he beat two Georgia defenders to haul in a 75-yard touchdown with 2:18 left in Alabama’s 41-34 victory at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa.

It was the type of explosive play Williams had made so many times before.

“Every game, he did something that left you just kind of scratching your head or laughing,” Saraland High coach Jeff Kelly said. “It was something all the time.”

He’s an old soul,” said Tiffany Coleman, Williams’ mother. “People are like, ‘He’s so mature to be 17.’ His grandparents had a lot to do with that. His maturity and foundation came from them.”

Coleman was 18 years old when Williams was born. Williams’ father, Ryan Williams, was 17. A few months after the younger Williams came into the world, his father left for college. An all-state receiver at B.C. Rain High in Mobile, the elder Williams signed with Auburn as a cornerback in February 2007. He spent two seasons with the Tigers before transferring to Copiah-Lincoln Community College in Mississippi in 2009.

Williams’ father finished his college career at Louisiana Tech — a knee injury limited him to only two games as a senior in 2011.