Last year was a magical freshman season for Ryan Williams. He exploded onto the scene and looked like the next great Alabama WR in a lineage that boasts names like Julio, Amari, and DeVonta. But the sequel in 2025 has been a lot less cinematic. The hype and expectation are still there, and the spotlight never faded, but the ride has been bumpier. Through four games, he’s been limited to 15 catches for 238 yards and two scores. But now, Kalen DeBoer is stepping in with a reminder that the 18-year-old’s story isn’t written yet. 

On Monday night’s Hey Coach show, Kalen DeBoer was asked point-blank about Ryan Williams’ uneven start. His answer sounded like a belief. “He kept his head up. He kept plugging away. He wants that [catch] as much as anyone,” the HC said. “I promise you, he didn’t miss it on purpose. His attitude and his energy coming back to practice the last three weeks has been awesome to see.” He also sees the superstar everyone else thought his receiver already was, even if the scoreboard hasn’t always backed it up.

That reassurance comes at a crucial time. Against Georgia in primetime, Ryan Williams had the kind of night that defines a young player’s narrative. He caught five catches for 43 yards, a whiffed block that ABC replayed for the nation, and a dropped would-be touchdown. For a preseason All-American, that’s enough fuel to keep critics loud all week. Yet Alabama still handed Georgia its first home loss in 33 games, and the Tide WR still showed flashes of why NFL scouts have his name underlined.

So, the story isn’t just about what Williams isn’t yet. It’s also about what Alabama has become. Ty Simpson threw for 276 yards and two scores, Alabama snapped Georgia’s streak, and the Tide kept the SEC balance of power alive, winning their first conference game of the season. That’s what Kalen DeBoer sees when he insists his WR is “progressing, developing, working.” But for all of these star receiver headlines, there’s another name demanding your attention in Tuscaloosa.

Could Germie Bernard overperform Ryan Williams? 

While Ryan Williams wrestles with the expectations of stardom, Germie Bernard is quietly (or maybe not-so-quietly) stealing the show. He leads Alabama with 20 receptions for 310 yards and four touchdowns, the kind of stat line that makes NFL scouts raise an eyebrow. His fingerprints were all over the Georgia win, from scoring the first touchdown of the night to extending drives with the kind of plays that win football games.

Veteran Alabama insider Aaron Suttles didn’t mince words after watching Germie Bernard dismantle Georgia. “You can’t convince me that, pound for pound, Germie Bernard is not the most important player on this team… He’s tremendously important,” he said on The Next Round, noting the wideout’s ability to double as a run-game supplement and momentum-shifter. NFL draft expert Matt Miller echoed the sentiment, putting Germie Bernard in the same WR1 conversation as Colorado’s Jordyn Tyson. That’s a leap from second-rounder to “can’t-miss guy” in just a few weeks. 

So, where does that leave Ryan Williams? Still ridiculously talented, still Alabama’s most marketable receiver, and still capable of rewriting his sophomore script. But while he finds his footing, Bernard’s already climbing the mountain.