Alabama commit, signee earn Gatorade Player of the Year honors
Two future members of Alabama’s football program earned prestigious awards on Friday.
Recent Bama signee Caleb Downs was rewarded with Gatorade Player of the Year honors for the state of Georgia. 2025 wide receiver commit Ryan Williams earned the Gatorade Player of the Year award for the state of Alabama.
According to the official press release, this award “recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field.”
Downs and Williams are both finalists for the Gatorade National Football Player of the Year Award, which will be announced later this month.
Caleb Downs has been sensational on and off the field
Caleb Downs has an argument for being the best overall high school football player in the country.
In his senior campaign, Downs played both sides of the ball en route to Mill Creek’s Class 7A state championship (the school’s first ever championship). The Five-Star Plus+ prospect was instrumental in the Hawks’ title run, recording 76 total tackles and five interceptions (two of which were returned for touchdowns).
Downs was a star on offense as well, amassing 812 total yards and 23 total touchdowns. After his season, he would go on to participate in Alabama’s bowl prep ahead of the Sugar Bowl, and is currently in San Antonio (Tx.) for the All-American Bowl that will be played on Saturday.
Per the Gatorade press release, Downs has volunteered locally with Gen50, “a faith-based peer leadership group, and as a youth football coach.” He is also a member of the Mill Creek High School football leadership council and has volunteered for local food drives.
Downs, who will enroll at Alabama this month, recently spoke with On3 Sports’ Jeremy Johnson about the next chapter of his life.
“I am gonna be coached by the Goat (Nick Saban),” Downs said. “It’s very exciting. He’s been doing it a long time. He has a lot of experience. There is a lot of stuff I can learn from him.”
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FULL STORY: Alabama signee Caleb Downs ready to play for the GOAT
Alabama commit Ryan Williams was electric in his sophomore season
It’s not hyperbole to say that Ryan Williams had one of the greatest seasons by a high school sophomore in recent memory.
In competitive Class 6A play in Alabama, Williams helped lead the Saraland Spartans to a 14-1 record. That was capped off with a 38-17 win over Mountain Brook High School in the state title game, which was also their first championship.
During the season, the top-20 overall player in his class recorded 42 total touchdowns for Saraland. He had 1,641 receiving yards on 87 catches and 24 touchdowns. He also had 709 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns on the ground.
Today’s accomplishment is significant as there is a lot of talent in the state of Alabama. The state is home to Alabama signees James Smith and Qua Russaw, Clemson signee Peter Woods, Florida signee Kelby Collins, as well as a flurry of other talented players in the 2023 and 2024 classes.
According to the press release, Williams has also “volunteered locally as part of multiple fundraising campaigns to benefit his school.” He’s donated his time with the Special Olympics and as a youth football coach as well.
Williams, an Auburn legacy, committed to the Crimson Tide back on Oct. 8, 2022.
ICYMI: 2025 Alabama WR commit Ryan Williams remains locked in with Bama: “It’s home.”
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