What Ryan Williams said when Jalen Milroe tried to apologize for career game at LSU
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Quarterback Jalen Milroe had a huge game against LSU, rushing for a career-high 185 yards and four touchdowns in Alabama’s 42-13 victory in Baton Rouge.
It marked the second year in a row that Milroe ran all over the Tigers, and the road win kept the Crimson Tide’s postseason hopes alive. The performance impressed his teammates.
“He’s a baller. He’s a dog,” said Alabama wide receiver Ryan Williams. “That’s all I can say.”
Milroe joined Shaun Alexander as the only players in program history with multiple games of at least four rushing touchdowns. His 72-yard scamper run was the longest touchdown run of the redshirt junior’s career and was his longest rush since Oct. 1, 2022 (77 vs. Arkansas). Milroe ended with a 15.4 yards per carry mark, the fourth-best in Alabama history.
But a big performance on the ground means Milroe wasn’t throwing the football as much. His 109 passing yards were a season-low, while his 18 passing attempts were the third-fewest of the 2024 season. According to Williams, Milroe tried to apologize to Alabama’s receivers, who only caught five passes in Baton Rouge, but he quickly stopped him.
“We were on the sideline, he’s like, ‘I’m sorry. I’m trying to get…’” Williams said. “I’m like, ‘Bro, look at your stats. We don’t care. We’re winning.’ So we’re just proud and happy for him and glad to be a part of his team.”
Milroe completed 12 of his 18 passes but was 0-for-2 on shots 20-plus yards downfield. One of those was a deep shot to Williams that the freshman couldn’t haul in, despite a diving effort. It was raining at Tiger Stadium by that point, but Williams believes he should have hauled it in, to give Alabama a big offensive gain and the ball inside of LSU’s 5-yard line.
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“You never wanna be in that situation,” Williams said. “All I was thinking when I was going to get it was I’ve gotta get it, and then I just lost focus and it happened. … I was running after it, and I thought I had it but I didn’t. I wanted to score really bad, so I was trying to drive, but when I dove, I left the ball.”
Williams ended up with two catches for 29 yards, but he had a couple of other big plays in the rivalry game. Williams returned one punt for 28 yards and a 22-yard carry. It was his second run of the season and biggest gain, as he joined Milroe in making plays with his legs.
Williams is one of three Alabama receivers who have carried the ball this season, joining Kendrick Law (6) and Germie Bernard (4). It’s an offensive wrinkle that he enjoys running.
“I love it because it reminds me of park ball, stuff I’ve been doing my whole life,” Williams said. “It’s just fun because it gives me like a nostalgic feeling.”
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