Alabama’s Ryan Williams decides to remain with school in 2026

Ryan Williams is staying in Tuscaloosa. 

Despite a down year and rumors of a possible transfer, the star Crimson Tide wide receiver said he will return to Alabama for his junior season.

“Of course,” Williams said Tuesday when asked if he was coming back, according to AL.com. “I’m Alabama through and through. I have no intentions of being anywhere else.”

Asked if he would enter the transfer portal, Williams had an affirmative answer.

“Nah,” he said, according to the outlet.

Williams, who turns 19 in February, is coming off a disappointing season after a monster freshman year for the Tide a year ago. 

Playing as a 17-year-old, Williams earned first-team All-SEC honors and was tabbed as a freshman All-American in 2024, catching 48 passes for 865 yards with 10 total touchdowns. 

Williams’ numbers took a dip across the board this season, as he hauled in 43 passes for 636 yards with just four scores. 

His 10 dropped passes this season were among the most in the country. 

“I had a lot of ups, people considered last year, and just learning how to deal with those, and I’ve had a lot of downs, people considered this year, and I’ve learned how to deal with those,” Williams told ESPN at media day ahead of this weekend’s College Football Playoff action. “Really just an opportunity to stay human and have empathy for others, because I’ve been through some things.

“It’s been a blessing to go through all the ups, all the downs, all the arounds.”

Williams and the Crimson Tide will take on the No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers in the CFP quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl on Thursday at 4 p.m. Eastern.