New name, same game: Ryan Coleman-Williams is Alabama’s player to watch

Kentucky’s defense will have plenty to worry about when No. 12 Alabama comes to Kroger Field on Saturday. It is Alabama, after all. But let’s start with the most obvious problem: wide receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams. That guy’s good. You probably know him better as Ryan Williams, the former five-star phenom who became one of college football’s biggest names almost immediately after arriving in Tuscaloosa in 2024. Now in his third season with the Crimson Tide, Coleman-Williams already has 102 career catches for 1,684 yards and 12 touchdowns, averaging an eye-popping 16.5 yards per reception. Eight of his touchdowns came in his true freshman season. This season, Coleman-Williams is looking to bounce back from a sophomore slump that included a major case of the drops. After bursting onto the scene as a true freshman, his production dipped in 2025, and he finished among the national leaders in dropped passes. Unfortunately for Alabama, that problem followed him into Week 1. Coleman-Williams dropped a wide-open deep ball early against East Carolina, then had another potential touchdown go through his hands on a play erased by a penalty. However, he responded with a 58-yard reception and finished the afternoon with five catches for 130 yards. Against Kentucky, Coleman-Williams will provide an immediate test for a secondary that wasn’t at full strength in the season opener. Starting cornerbacks Hasaan Sykes and Terhyon Nichols both missed the Youngstown State game, forcing Kentucky to dig deeper into its cornerback room than expected. True freshman Isaiah McMillian made the most of the opportunity, making his first career start and playing 62 snaps, the most of any Kentucky defender. He held up well, finishing with seven tackles, a tackle for loss and a pass breakup. But guarding Youngstown State’s receivers and trying to contain Coleman-Williams are two very different assignments. Kentucky hopes to have reinforcements Saturday. Will Stein expects his team will be at full strength against Alabama, including Sykes and Nichols. Regardless of who’s available, the defense faces its first true test of the year, led by Coleman-Williams, who can wreck a game in an instant. Why Ryan Coleman-Williams now? Now known as Ryan Coleman-Williams, the Alabama star spent his first two college seasons simply known as Ryan Williams. He added his mother’s last name, Coleman, to his own before this season as a tribute to her. The name isn’t the only thing that’s different about him. Coleman-Williams also switched from No. 2 to No. 1, returning to the number he wore in high school. So, a new name and new number for one of the best receivers in the country, but still the same problem for defenses.