Remember Ryan Coleman-Williams? The dude who exploded onto the college football scene as a true freshman, looking like the absolute next big thing for Alabama? Well, the junior wideout just kicked off his season with two absolutely inexplicable drops in Alabama’s Week 1 opener, leaving college football fans wondering if he’s dealing with a case of “the yips.”
From Freshman Phenom to Sophomore Slump?
It wasn’t that long ago that Ryan Coleman-Williams, then known as Ryan Williams, had everyone talking. This guy kicked off his college career with a BANG in 2024, hauling in two catches for a ridiculous 139 yards, BOTH going for touchdowns in Alabama’s season-opening win over Western Kentucky. Think about it, he was only 17 years old, one of the youngest players in FBS football, and already looking like a superstar in the making. He didn’t stop there either, putting together massive outings against legit programs like Vanderbilt, Georgia, and Tennessee. By the end of his true freshman season, he snagged 48 catches for 865 yards and 10 total touchdowns, earning first-team All-SEC, second-team All-American, and freshman All-American honors. The hype was real, folks.
Then last year happened. Coleman-Williams just didn’t take that expected leap, even playing with Ty Simpson, who was an elite-level quarterback and ended up getting drafted in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams. It was a head-scratcher, no doubt.
Week 1 Woes and the ‘Bugaboo’
Fast forward to now. It’s his junior year, with sophomore Keelon Russell under center, and after another offseason, everyone expected Coleman-Williams to finally take his game to that superstar level. But early indications? They are not good. In Alabama’s Week 1 opener, he had not one, but two brutal drops.
The first came midway through the opening quarter. Russell hit Coleman-Williams wide open down the seam, a perfect pass. The junior leaped, ready to make the grab, but the ball just fell right through his hands. You could almost hear the collective groan from the broadcast crew, who didn’t hold back: “That’s the bugaboo from last season.” Ouch. Later in the same half, with Alabama driving for another score, Coleman-Williams ran a fade-stop route, and Russell found him open in the end zone. And yet again, the ball went right through his hands. You can’t make this stuff up!
Flashes of Talent Amidst the Frustration
Now, it wasn’t all bad. Coleman-Williams did manage to reel in four catches for 100 yards by the end of the first half. That kind of playmaking ability is exactly why he was such a highly touted prospect, a reminder of the raw talent we all saw in his freshman year. But man, those drops? They are impossible to ignore, especially with the sky-high expectations surrounding him this junior season. One game isn’t everything, that’s true, but if the Crimson Tide are serious about making a run at a national title this season, they absolutely need their star wideout to turn those flashes of brilliance into consistent, reliable play. They can’t afford these kinds of mistakes.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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