How old is Ryan Williams? What to know of Alabama freshman ahead of ReliaQuest Bowl vs Michigan

Posted by author December 31, 2024 Football

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The only subject talked more about when it came to Alabama football wide receiver Ryan Williams than his talent was his age.

Williams, a true freshman, turned heads in his first season at the college football level. While he had already significantly impacted his first handful of games, the Crimson Tide’s upset victory over Georgia was his coming-out party.

He had six receptions for 177 yards and a touchdown in Alabama’s 41-34 win over the Bulldogs, including the game-winning 75-yard touchdown after Georgia made a furious comeback to tie the game.

What makes his performance even more impressive, as the broadcast crew during Alabama’s ReliaQuest Bowl matchup vs. Michigan will point out, is that Williams is just 17 years old and should be a senior in high school rather than taking the college football world by storm.

The No. 11 Crimson Tide (9-3) take on the Wolverines at noon ET on Tuesday at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. It’s a rematch of the College Football quarterfinal from last season.

Williams enters the final game of his freshman season with 45 receptions for 857 yards and eight touchdowns. He finished second in most categories to Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith, who has caught 63 passes for 1,037 yards and 12 touchdowns among freshmen.

Here’s what you need to know on when Williams’ age, along with a look at his updated stats:

How old is Ryan Williams?

Williams’ birthday is listed as Feb. 9, 2007, which makes him 17. However, his 17th birthday actually fell on signing day this past year. He is the youngest player in college football this season but has still made an enormous impact.

When does Ryan Williams turn 18?

Williams will turn 18 in February, a year younger than most college sophomores. When he is 19, he will be eligible for the NFL Draft. On Dec. 11, 2023, Williams announced his intention to forgo his senior year of college, reclassifying from the 2025 recruiting class to 2024.

Despite his reclassification, Williams was still highly regarded as a top prospect. According to 247Sports Composite rankings, he was the No. 4 overall player and the No. 3 wide receiver in the class, solidly making the two-time former Alabama Mr. Football a five-star recruit.