TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama receiver Ryan Williams has a new name and a new number for 2026.
One of the team’s most notable players made two notable changes during the offseason. He added Coleman to his now-hyphenated last name to honor his mother, and he switched from No. 2 to No. 1 with the Crimson Tide, returning to the digit he wore in high school for in-state powerhouse Saraland.
Both moves could kick-start a bounce-back season for the speedy 6-foot, 182-pound junior who struggled to catch the ball last year.
“I have a legacy that I want to write,” Coleman-Williams said Friday at the end of the first week of spring practices. “My mom is a strong part of that. She’s my best friend, and the name Coleman comes from her. So just want to represent my family to the best of my ability.
“As far as my number, it’s just an opportunity to have a hard reset, make me feel like myself again and get ready for a season that doesn’t disappoint.”
A preseason All-America selection in 2025, Coleman-Williams had only one 100-yard receiving game last season — in the third week against Wisconsin — and led the Football Bowl Subdivision with 13 drops. He finished with 49 receptions for 689 yards and four touchdowns as a sophomore after capturing national attention with 45 catches for 857 yards and eight scores as a freshman.
Alabama reached the Southeastern Conference title game last December after going 7-3 in league play during a 10-3 regular season. The Tide lost 28-7 to Georgia but still made the 12-team College Football Playoff as the No. 9 seed, and they avenged a home loss with a 34-24 win at No. 8 seed Oklahoma before getting dominated in the Rose Bowl quarterfinal, losing 38-3 to eventual national champion Indiana.
“Not necessarily a disappointing (season), but I learned a lot of lessons,” Coleman-Williams said. “I’m just thankful for those lessons and thankful for the opportunity to put some better on display this season.”
Alabama is looking for Coleman-Williams to step into a larger leadership role. He is one of only two returning starters on offense and the only upperclassman in that duo. The Tide will have a new starting quarterback in 2026, and within Coleman-Williams’s position group, there’s a new coach (Derrick Nix) and five new players.
Through the first week of spring practice, Alabama third-year head coach Kalen DeBoer voiced confidence in how Coleman-Williams has adjusted.
“It feels like he’s seeing an opportunity,” DeBoer said. “He continues to raise the work, raise the level and be efficient in it. He’s always worked. I think where he’s focusing that attention is really intentional. It’s great to see his leadership capabilities. Last year I felt like he took a great step, and now it’s on another level. Our team needs that.”
Alabama still has a month of spring work ahead, with the Tide set to close it out with their annual A-Day instrasquad scrimmage in front of fans on April 11 at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Coleman-Williams said he “1,000%” felt like his old self through the first few days of practice. That’s welcome news as the Tide’s quarterback competition, featuring Austin Mack and Keelon Russell, is one of the most high-profile offseason races in college football. Creating a bond with Coleman-Williams could be key to winning the job and replacing Ty Simpson, who was a first-year starter as a redshirt junior last season but declared for the NFL draft instead of using his final season of eligibility.
And with so many new faces, getting Coleman-Williams back into his freshman form should help him and the offense maximize their potential.
“He’s so naturally talented and he’s such a hard worker and a great kid,” said Ryan Grubb, who is entering his second season as the team’s offensive coordinator. “The ownership he had after the season I think is something that really stands out to me. (We need) a concerted effort on our part to make sure we’re getting him enough touches in every game. If we can’t get him the ball down the field, we’ve got to find a way to get the ball in his hands early.
“He’s shown that he’s really, really electric. If there’s issues with contested catches and things like that, then you’ve got to be more creative and just find ways to get him the football in his hands.”