Nick Saban Draws a Startling NFL Comparison for Ryan Williams, WR for Alabama…
Wide receivers of the NFL level have historically been produced by the Alabama Crimson Tide, and 6-foot freshman Ryan Williams might be the next in line. Williams is a confident player; after winning the Heisman Trophy himself, he told DeVonta Smith of the Philadelphia Eagles that he wouldn’t be the first wide receiver from Alabama to do so. However, Williams makes a rather grandiose comparison to another former Alabama receiver who is currently playing in the NFL, former Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban. On “College GameDay” this past Saturday, Nick Saban stated, “Ryan Williams is a mature competitor.” “He’s among the most responsible youth I’ve ever hired. He shown maturity even as a freshman, and what truly indicates when a guy is mature competitor is he can focus on the things that matter. “For a 17-year-old guy, this guy is explosive, he’s got great hands, he can run after the catch. I think this guy reminds me of Amari Cooper when he was a freshman, and I think this guy’s got a great career (ahead of him).”
In 2012, Cooper had a stellar freshman season and swept the SEC. Leading the team in all three categories, he caught 59 receptions for 1,000 yards and 11 touchdowns, earning him a spot on the SEC All-Freshman Team and Freshman All-America accolades. Of the wide receivers with 1,000 yards or more that season, Cooper finished fourth in yards per reception (16.9) and was one of only two SEC receivers with 11 touchdowns or more. For rookie wide receivers, Cooper established a high standard, and Williams might have a similar effect for Alabama. He has six receptions for 207 yards and three touchdowns in two games.
Be the first to comment