Shedeur Sanders reacts to breakout Ryan Willams performance

College football is full of freshmen who jump in and make an immediate impact, but a few select players will rise above the rest and instantly make a name for themselves at an even higher level. Enter Ryan Williams at Alabama.

The freshman wideout made the play of the game in a 41-34 win over Georgia, securing a catch in the fourth quarter, then making an insane move to beat the secondary and race to the end zone for the long, go-ahead score.

Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders was watching.

“I saw that. That receiver is crazy, bro. He’s crazy, bro,” Sanders said on the 2Legendary with Shedeur Sanders podcast. “I first learned about him kind of like whenever [Deion “Bucky” Sanders Jr.] was playing with them on NCAA on College Football 25. I’m like, ‘Hey bruh, this guy that’s making all these plays, bruh, he got to do it in a game. He got to do it in a game, bro. He got to.’ Because in the game it was just being sick. But then you know he’s actually able to do that.”

Ryan Williams has done just that, converting his raw athleticism into production at the college level.

He’s not just playing well for a freshman, either. He’s having an All-American type season so far, one that has placed him among the elite playmakers in college football.

Ryan Williams has scored a touchdown in every game this season for the Crimson Tide. Through four games he’s got 16 catches for 462 yards and five touchdowns.

“I’m happy for him that he’s able to finally be able to shine his first year,” Sanders said. “I feel like he’s going to be a great receiver.”

The high school accolades told the story, too.

Ryan Williams was rated as a five-star-plus prospect in the 2024 recruiting class, checking in as the No. 5 overall player in the nation. He was ranked as the No. 3 wide receiver in his class and the No. 2 overall player from the state of Alabama.

So far, he’s living up to the lofty billing. And Shedeur Sanders, for one, is thoroughly impressed.