Alabama entered the 2025 season excited about the wide receiver room, headlined by sophomore sensation Ryan Williams. But in the opener against Florida State, Williams did not put together a great performance before leaving with a concussion. Outside of Germie Bernard, the entire position really struggled.

On Tuesday, Williams got called out by former Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron. He focused specifically on Williams now working all over the field, sometimes lining up in the slot and running down the middle. In McCarron’s mind, it’s not something he is comfortable with quite yet.

“He didn’t look good inside,” McCarron said. “Go back and anyone that wants to question what I’m talking about, go back and watch the film. When he was inside running routes, he looked terrified when he was running across the middle. Terrified to get hit.

“I’ll tell you the difference between him and DeVonta Smith. DeVonta Smith went across the middle and would catch balls. Ryan Williams does not want to go across the middle at all. He has a scared factor to him.”

Many consider Smith the greatest wide receiver ever seen in Tuscaloosa. Just look at his Heisman Trophy campaign, capped off by a national championship in 2020. Former offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian could place Smith anywhere in the formation, and more times than not, success was found. Some might think the comparison is unfair but Williams got off to such a great start as a true freshman, the expectations of his career skyrocketed.

Moving Williams around is a factor of what Alabama has at wide receiver. Isaiah Horton was a massive offseason addition from Miami and the NCAA transfer portal. Listed at 6-4, 208 pounds, not too many guys with that frame are going to appear in the slot. Williams cannot play outside on a full-time basis if the Crimson Tide is going to get its best players out there.

Whether or not Williams will have an immediate opportunity to get back out there, we do not know. Head coach Kalen DeBoer officially listed him as day-to-day after suffering a concussion in the fourth quarter. Williams was hit by Florida State defensive back Earl Little Jr. after dropping a ball in the middle of the field.

Alabama faces off against Louisiana-Monroe on Saturday before hosting Wisconsin the following week. Whenever Williams recovers from his injury, you can pinpoint the one area McCarron wants to see improvement.