Ryan Williams Named to Maxwell Award Watch List

Alabama's top receiver target for 2025 raked in the accolades as a freshman last season. Ryan Williams was named All-SEC First-Team, Freshman All-American, and Freshman All-SEC last season. Williams is expected to be the top target for Alabama's new starting quarterback this season.

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According to a release by the University of Alabama, Williams has been named to the Maxwell Award watch list for the 2025 season.

Williams, a sophomore from Saraland, Alabama, burst onto the scene last season for Alabama, hauling in 48 passes for 865 yards and 10 total touchdowns for the Tide last season, leading the Tide in both receiving yards and receiving touchdowns (8).

In his collegiate debut, Williams caught two passes for 139 yards and two touchdowns. His only other 100-yard performance last season came against Georgia, where he caught six passes for 177 yards and a touchdown.

Williams is one of 80 players named to the watch list for the Maxwell Award, which has been presented annually since 1937 to the top player in college football. Semifinalists will be announced on Nov. 11, and finalists will be announced on Nov. 25. The award will be presented on December 11.

Five Alabama players have won the award previously, with AJ McCarron being the first in 2013. Derrick Henry won the award (and the Heisman Trophy) in 2015, and Tua Tagovailoa won it in 2018. Alabama had back-to-back winners in 2020 and 2021 with DeVonta Smith and Bryce Young, who both took home the Heisman Trophy in addition.

Other SEC players joining Williams on the watch list are:

Taylen Green - Arkansas
Jackson Arnold - Auburn
Cam Coleman - Auburn
DJ Lagway - Florida
Nate Frazier - Georgia
Garrett Nussmeier - LSU
Caden Durham - LSU
Ahmad Hardy - Missouri
John Mateer - Oklahoma
Jadyn Ott - Oklahoma
LaNorris Sellers - South Carolina
Arch Manning - Texas
Quintrevion Wisner - Texas
Marcel Reed - Texas A&M
Le'Veon Moss - Texas A&M
Diego Pavia - Vanderbilt

Wyatt Fulton is the Tide 100.9 DME and Brand Manager, primarily covering Alabama Crimson Tide football and men's basketball. For more Crimson Tide coverage, follow Wyatt on X (Formerly known as Twitter) at @FultonW_.