Ryan Williams Turns College Football’s Laughing Stock After Unexpected Jeremiah Smith Claim

Ryan Williams’ 2025 run at Bama has been a wild mix of highs, lows, and plenty of buzz. As a sophomore wide receiver, Williams came into this season with a lot of eyes on him. Early in the season, he showed flashes of that electrifying potential, hauling in five catches for 30 yards in the opener before a concussion sidelined him for a game. But now he is back against Wisconsin. However, the buzz isn’t just on the field but also off it, where Williams has made some intriguing claims about Ohio State’s star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith.

What’s interesting is that despite all the admiration for Smith’s strength and skill, Williams reportedly believes he can actually be “better” than Jeremiah Smith. Looking at where Ryan Williams stands right now with that big claim, it’s a bit of a tough sell. But here’s the twist in the tale. If you are keeping an eye on the Bama against Wisconsin game, you will realize that Williams is still fighting hard to prove his claim.

Williams made an explosive return by catching 5 passes for 165 yards and 2 touchdowns. He broke free on a highlight 75-yard flea-flicker touchdown right at the start of the second half. His dominant performance gave Alabama a much-needed boost against a tough Badgers defense. And also, he is still trying everything in his power to hold his position alongside Smith and not below him. Fans and analysts widely recognize Ryan Williams and Jeremiah Smith as the best wide receivers in college football right now, and the two openly respect each other. EA Sports even featured both of them on the CFB game cover. But now Williams wants to topple that respect.

Williams didn’t even play in Alabama’s second game as he was recovering from a concussion. Fans had to wait until week 3’s crucial matchup against Wisconsin for Williams to make his comeback. Now, back on the field, Williams made a strong statement, proving why he should be a part of this conversation alongside Smith, with Alabama snagging a 38-14 win against the Badgers.

See, Smith’s physical profile gives him a natural edge. At 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, Smith is a bigger, more physically imposing wide receiver. He is a true bully at the catch point who wins those contested 50-50 balls that change games. Williams, by contrast, is a finesse player. He is built more like former Alabama superstar DeVonta Smith, relying on elite speed and route running to separate from defenders. Williams, though explosive and incredibly fast (clocking sub-10.5 100-meter times), is younger and still developing his skill set.

Lastly, we have the Heisman talks. And it’s clearly inclined towards Smith for months. Smith is not your average wide receiver. His preseason Heisman odds at +900 are the shortest for a wide receiver in over 15 years.

Better than Jeremiah Smith? Fans say not even close

Interestingly, the fans didn’t have a supportive reaction to Ryan Williams’ claims. A fan writes, “Now show the Bama vs FSU highlights.” This opens old wounds. The 2025 Alabama vs. Florida State game was a painful debut for the Crimson Tide. Florida State pulled off a big upset, 31-17, with a punishing rushing attack and a strong defensive performance that held Alabama’s offense to just 17 points. Ryan Williams struggled in that game, part of a generally disappointing offense that faced pressure all night.

Next up, a fan says, “He’s not better than Carnell Tate.” Tate possesses a blend of physicality and skill that some analysts believe gives him a higher ceiling than Williams. “Well… At least he believes in himself; that has to count for something,” a fan chimed in. Ouch, that must have stung.

Lastly, a fan writes, “Bro, can we stop with this ‘WR1’ comparison. It’s clearly Jeremiah Smith, and the only close is Cam Coleman. Ryan hasn’t produced anything.” Smith has proven himself with record-breaking freshman stats, highlight catches, and steady production.

Cam Coleman, Auburn’s sophomore receiver, has also had his moments, showing consistent growth with 8 catches for 100 yards in 2025. Meanwhile, Williams has struggled to find that consistent WR1-level impact on the field.