Even the most ardent Alabama football fans have expected a transition period for true freshman WR Ryan Williams, a two-time Alabama Mr. Football winner at Saraland High School. After all, Williams is a 17-year-old freshman who should be enjoying his senior year of high school (the fact that he is probably not thrilling the state’s high school coaches).

We all knew it was only a matter of time before Hollywood took notice in Tuscaloosa. He was widely considered a five-star recruit and was simply too talented to stay off the field for long. But the game at this level is faster and the defenders are bigger and more physical. And yet none of that mattered to Williams two games into his illustrious Crimson career.

Instead, any thoughts of a transition for William were quickly dashed when he lined up for Alabama’s first snap of the season as a WR; he had already earned a starting spot at Alabama even though he is not even eligible to vote in November’s presidential election.

In two games, Williams has caught six passes for 207 yards and three touchdowns. In the season opener against Western Kentucky, he caught two passes and converted them for 139 yards and two touchdowns.

Although his statistics weren’t quite as stellar against USF, Williams was once again the Tide’s best receiver, catching four passes for 68 yards and scoring the touchdown that finally gave Alabama some breathing room against an opponent most Tide fans would rather never see on the schedule again.

It’s clear that Williams has earned the trust of the coaching staff and star QB Jalen Milroe alike. Alabama lined up several throwing attempts for Williams throughout the game, and while they didn’t hit any of the long throws, Williams drew a couple of pass interference penalties that helped move the ball for a Tide offense that spent most of the evening idling.

Alabama has a long history of elite wide receivers, especially in the Nick Saban era. Julio Jones was one of the best players in the country from the moment he stepped on the field for the Tide in 2008. Amari Cooper emerged over the course of the 2012 season and asserted himself as a first-round pick on a national title team as a freshman. Calvin Ridley did the same in 2015. DeVonta Smith caught the game-winning touchdown pass in the national title game as a freshman before putting together one of the most successful seasons in the history of the sport for a wide receiver in 2020, culminating in winning the Heisman Trophy.

That’s the company Ryan Williams is forcing himself into. There will be some teething issues, but the kid seems unflappable two weeks into the season. The composure he showed when he secured the ball, made a play and broke a tackle for a 43-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter of a close game speaks volumes about his maturity. Many young players – and even veterans – get tense in late-game situations, afraid of making a mistake that could cost their team the game.

Williams has that certain something that can transform him from a special talent into one of the best receivers in college football in a short period of time.