Calls Mount Against Ryan Williams as Football Community Floats Concerning Speculations After Alabama A-Day Snub

Alabama football’s A-Day is supposed to be the appetizer before the fall feast. It’s a chance for fans to get a sneak peek of what’s cooking in Tuscaloosa as Alabama hosts them for the annual A-Day scrimmage. But this year, things took a different turn. Head coach Kalen DeBoer chose to forgo a scrimmage in favor of holding an open practice instead. This meant teams were split into offense and defense instead of a typical Crimson vs. White scrimmage. While opinions on the change were mixed, it brought a fresh twist. Players were available for autographs, and one name towered above the rest in fan demand: Ryan Williams.

The Tide’s new look A-Day had to do without Williams on the field. He didn’t suit up. No helmet, no shoulder pads, no reps. Just straight sidelines. He was out there, smiling, joking, flexing on the sideline, and looking absolutely jacked. Shoulders poppin’, biceps bulging, traps on ten. And even though he didn’t take a snap, he still broke the internet and made Alabama history.

Williams sat beside his teammate and “New Wave” podcast cohost Jaylen Mbakwe, Sharpie in hand, ready to sign anything that came his way—photos, jerseys, and random memorabilia. According to UA athletics, Williams had “the longest line for an autograph” in recent A-Day history.

While coach DeBoer also had a lengthy line of fans to meet, it was nothing like the queue for Williams, with the line stretching across the field. But not everyone was happy about it.

Online, some fans were side-eyeing him for snubbing the spring game. Some were harping about him not taking things seriously. With him being one of the popular and bigger players for the Crimson Tide, it would have made sense for him to show up to practice, but here’s the thing: Williams didn’t take part in last year’s A-Day scrimmage, having enrolled later that summer, but that didn’t stop the Alabama native from making a serious impact. Williams was scary good last season.

48 grabs, 865 yards, 8 touchdowns. And that was without spring reps. Without a full offseason. Just pure raw talent. Greg McElroy even said it on the Always College Football podcast. “He arrived last year in June. He didn’t have the benefit of going through that 15 padded practices in spring, didn’t have the benefit of going through an offseason program in which he’s training like a college athlete….he had to accelerate rapidly to get him up to game speed. To get him ready to be a difference-maker for the Tide. And he was able to do that in about 2 or 3 months.” Ryan Williams bodied and mossed SEC CBs and DBs without a spring practice last season.

Now he’s got a full offseason under his belt. And that belt might need a new notch because he added some serious muscle. Williams himself even joked last month, “I’m getting a little bigger, if y’all can’t tell.” He wasn’t lying. And this ain’t just vanity weight. It’s functional. He said it best: “My guys blocked for me, so just trying to return that favor down the field blocking.” 

With that extra strength, Williams is looking to break more tackles, run through contact, and still dust DBs with that sub-4.4 speed. He even said he’s aiming to beat Jalen Milroe’s 4.37 after their pro day. So yeah, that added muscle ain’t slowing him down. It’s just giving him extra ammo. But why are fans upset?

Well, given how Alabama failed to reach the expanded CFB playoffs, fans are not entirely convinced by Kalen DeBoer. After the departure of two-year starter Jalen Milroe to the NFL, the program is yet to make a decision on their QB 1, with a three-way battle. So, seeing one of their promising players sit out practice didn’t go down well with a lot of them.

Ryan Williams faces criticism despite A-Day buzz

When Bama’s official page dropped that A-Day practice clip, the comment section lit up like it was draft night—and not all in a good way. Some fans were quick to call out Ryan Williams for skipping the scrimmage, throwing questions his way. One fan complained, “He may be a GOOD player but his cocky attitude will keep him from being a GREAT player.” Well, that claim can be disputed.

This is the same Ryan Williams who said, “I think I could have done a lot better” after an 865-yard freshman season? That ain’t cockiness—that’s accountability. Plus, Bama’s head coach gave a reason for why Williams wasn’t involved. “Just taking care of him… if we asked him, he’d be out there.” Ryan was ready to suit up. It staff hit pause, not him. But some fans were questioning the decision.

One fan wrote, “Such a bama mindset that u don’t gotta play if you’re good, have fun missing a 12 team playoff ag with deboer lmfao.” DeBoer had to follow in the footsteps of Alabama great Nick Saban and safe to say it wasn’t an easy task. After a disappointing campaign, the pressure is on him and Williams to get the program to the CFB playoffs at the very least. Another fan was unhappy with Williams sitting out as they noted, “If he is not hurt, this is BS!!.”

Look, perhaps Ryan isn’t load managing for a paycheck. He’s protecting the long-term investment, which includes an entire SEC gauntlet, not a spring scrimmage with walk-ons. This man played through pressure last season without a full offseason and still embarrassed UGA’s defense in Atlanta. Will it be ideal for him to put himself at risk for a glorified practice in April?

Citing this, one fan mentioned, “Yeah not surprised, saving it for the big games, totally understand. Also looks like he put on some weight—good for him.” That’s football IQ talking. Skipping A-Day? Smart. Why risk injury in April when you’re a projected future first-rounder already? Last year, Williams didn’t even get spring reps—he arrived in June and still managed to set the SEC on fire. Now he’s had nine months of college-level training. Let the body recover, protect the asset, and unleash it when it actually counts. Yet, some fans remained up in arms.

Some fans also speculated that his absence might be due to an injury. One fan wrote, “He’s been healing from an injury I believe,” and another simply blurted, “He’s hurt.”

“Man college athletes feelin mad privileged ain’t it? YOU ARE IN COLLEGE. Why? To get better and grow yourself as a player and a person. THIS IS NOT THE NFL WHERE U GET TO CHOOSE WHETHER OR NOT U PRACTICE,” wrote another disgruntled fan.

Still, the A-Day is nothing but an extra look for guys trying to crack the two-deep. Ryan’s seat is reserved. No whining, no hiding—just smart team management, as Coach DeBoer laid out: “He might not do much the rest of the spring… just being really careful.” Translation? The Tide’s not risking the Bugatti in a parking lot demo.

So while some folks are out here speculating about his absence, the real ones know: the man’s just loading up the cannon. And when fall hits? Somebody’s secondary is going to catch the smoke.