For the Alabama Crimson Tide, the 2024 season was about chasing the playoffs and the Natty. But for only the third time ever, the college football playoff rolled on without the Tide—you know that fire for a comeback story is blazing in Kalen DeBoer. While the quarterback picture is starting to clear up with Ty Simpson likely taking the starting role, DeBoer has another game-changing weapon in his arsenal—18-year-old phenom Ryan Williams. Now, Williams didn’t have a full spring practice last season but still exploded onto the scene, pulling in 48 catches for 865 yards and 8 touchdowns. Despite the limited reps, he quickly became a fan favorite for his electric play and humble personality.

Do you remember when Williams broke records on A-Day without even playing a single down? The rising sophomore had “the longest line for an autograph” in recent A-Day history, cementing his status as one of the most popular players in Tuscaloosa. He’s now considered one of the Top 10 returners for Alabama in 2025, a remarkable rise for a young player still finding his way. And if you needed more proof of his character, just look at what he did for his Feb 9th birthday. Williams, alongside his teammate Jaylen Mbakwe, took a moment to celebrate with a meaningful gesture.

The wide receiver shared a post on his Instagram story from the Hall-Kent Elementary School, showing students holding their artwork. The caption read, “Students are starting to send in the submissions for the Ryan Williams & Jaylen Mbakwe art contest! 🥺❤️ @hkelemschool.” Williams had a true freshman season to remember, but it’s moments like this that show his impact goes beyond the stat sheet. It’s not just about the big numbers—sometimes, it’s about the big heart.

Even Nick Saban once put it, “He is one of the most mature kids I have recruited.” And that maturity was on full display recently when Williams took time to honor two basketball champs confined to wheelchairs.

For young players, off-season vibes usually mean beach trips with loved ones, dropping cash on fancy rides, or just enjoying other sports. If not these, then they are bulking themselves up in the gym. While Ryan Williams can opt for any of the given options, as of now, he appeared on the New Wave Podcast on May 8 and was there for a special cause. Williams was with two special Alabama players: brothers Peter and Aaron Berry, who are part of the University of Alabama’s dominant wheelchair basketball team that won the 2023 national championship. At a time when young chaps like Williams are hyped up for their run game on the gridiron, the Berry brothers have been truly an inspiration. 

The Alabama wide receiver chatted with them about the nitty-gritty of wheelchair basketball and honored them with a special tag, saying, “So you know at the University of Alabama, you know where champions are made is what they say and y’all are champions.” So, what is the Berry brothers’ story that might inspire millions, just as it inspired Williams?

Peter and Aaron Berry’s lives were irrevocably changed on the Fourth of July weekend in 2011. Then nine and eight years old, they were traveling home to Houston from a road trip to Colorado with their parents, Josh and Robin, and younger sister Willa. That’s when a distracted driver on the highway swerved into the opposite lane and crashed head-on into their minivan.

Peter and Aaron tragically lost their parents in the accident, and they themselves sustained a T10 vertebrae injury in the middle of their spines, resulting in paralysis from the waist down. Was that the end of their story? Absolutely not. Instead, it marked a new beginning. And the fact that Williams acknowledged their incredible fight is precisely what has made him such a fan favorite.

Ryan Williams becomes the fans’ favorite through his influence off the field 

Peter was a member of the US wheelchair basketball team that played in the Maccabiah Games in Israel in the summer of 2017. Later on, the Berry brothers missed the 2021 Maccabiah Games because they were playing for the Under-23 United States national team in a tournament in Thailand. Their time in Alabama was highlighted in 2023, when the Tide men’s wheelchair basketball team won the NIWBT National Championship, and in 2022, when Peter and Aaron were both chosen to represent Team USA at the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF). For teenagers like Williams, it’s often easy to fall prey to self-obsession. 

But the wide receiver stood out. He was eager to learn about the Peters brothers’ journey and how they faced and overcame day-to-day hurdles. After all, we know how legs play a crucial part in the basketball game. Thus, a fan noted, “🔥🔥🔥🔥thanks for showing us the adaptative sports!! That was super dope…RollTide.” With this, Williams has become the face of the Crimson Tide, which has a rich legacy, with the seed of a winner’s mentality implanted by GOAT Nick Saban.

His move inspires other players who share a similar journey to come up. “Really thank you Ryan. My son will be at the camp this summer for wheelchair basketball. Side note…. Aaron got the chocolate Travis Scott’s on????”

In an era when NIL controls a majority of the young players, Williams is making the story heard when oftentimes the stories go unnoticed. Thus, a fan gave the wide receiver big kudos: “Very inspiring guys. Makes you want to never complain about anything watching how these 2 carry themselves. Roll Tide!”

Seeing Williams, a fan’s heartfelt memory got triggered. A bigger part of the memory revolves around the fan’s late grandfather and how they bonded over Bama games. “Hey Ryan, I hope you end up seeing this. I just wanted to say thanks for all you and the rest of y’all have done for me and my life. My grandfather died very recently from Parkinson’s Disease and whenever I would spend the night at his house on a Saturday we would always watch the Bama game. Me and my parents always hoped to take him and my grandmother to go see a game irl, but sadly my grandfather passed away before we could. I say this all to let you know how much you’ve had an impact on my life because when you had that TD against Georgia that was his favorite moment. After he died I watched that play over and over again bc that was one of the last times I saw him actually be excited before his disease took over him and made him emotionless. I hope one day I get the chance to meet y’all irl, love you boys and cheers to an amazing next season.”

Ryan Williams has become the face of the podcast. He is now focused on uplifting the program. A fan commented, “NEWWW WAAAAAVEEEEE.” The star WR was sidelined by an undisclosed injury and could potentially miss the rest of Alabama’s spring football camp. Kalen DeBoer is just refusing to take any further risks. Now, the Crimson Tide faithful await Williams’ breakout moment, hoping he and the Berry brothers make Alabama proud.