Ryan Williams, a rookie wide receiver for Alabama football, would love nothing more than to have a significant impact as a Crimson Tide player this autumn. In order to achieve this, he would like to work out with someone who has accomplished a great deal more.
DeVonta Smith of the Philadelphia Eagles, a former standout player for Alabama, earned the 2020 Heisman Trophy after having one of the best receiving seasons in collegiate football history (1,856 yards, 23 touchdowns). Williams claimed he had been in contact with Smith. Williams stated, “I’d love to work something out with him, but nothing is for sure yet,” on Saturday at Hillcrest High, where he was conducting the Rising Tide youth football camp with Alabama running back Justice Haynes. “So, we’ll see.”
The window will remain open for about a month if it’s going to happen sooner rather than later, as Eagles veterans don’t report for training camp until July 23. Williams couldn’t ask for a better workout partner in terms of mentoring than Smith, who as a freshman caught the game-winning touchdown pass in a national championship game against Georgia, went on to become the college game’s best receiver, and then won another national title as a senior in the COVID-19 season of 2020.
Even more so as a professional, Smith lacked size while in college, but he overcame it with explosiveness and impeccable technique. At 6-foot-1 and 165 pounds, Williams isn’t the biggest of receivers either, but he does have exceptional speed and explosiveness. Haynes claims that Williams, who enrolled at Alabama earlier this month, has shown promise in his summer workouts. Haynes remarked, “He works his butt off every day.” “He knows his plays, and I think he’s going to be a special player.”
Alabama signed an amazing string of wide receivers, including Julio Jones, Amari Cooper, and Calvin Ridley, who had a significant effect as freshmen, under former coach Nick Saban, who is now retired. Williams might be the next, as a five-star recruit joining the team at the same time that a new, pass-heavy approach is being implemented. Even so, Smith’s history indicates that Williams’ success is not assured; in spite of his spectacular 2017 CFP performance, Smith only caught eight passes in his rookie season.
Williams claimed that after graduating from Saraland High School, he worked out with his father every day at 6:30 a.m. for the entire month of May. He adjusted well when he reported for Alabama summer workouts earlier this month thanks to this, which included speed training in the afternoons and a morning weight room session. “I wasn’t going to sit around and collect dust,” he stated.
With Smith, who is renowned for having a strong work ethic and excellent practice habits, he wouldn’t gather any either. Regardless of his ability to spend time with the former Alabama Heisman winner, Williams stated he won’t be overly ambitious for the 2024 campaign. “I’m just focused on being the best player I can be, so that I can do whatever the team needs,” he stated.
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