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Damien Harris emphatically calls out Ryan Williams: 'We need to see you deliver'

ns_headshot_2024-clearby: Nick Schultz09/13/25NickSchultz_7
Alabama WR Ryan Williams
Alabama WR Ryan Williams (William McLelland / Imagn Images)

Ahead of Alabama’s matchup against Wisconsin on Saturday, Crimson Tide great Damien Harris is watching Ryan Williams closely. He had some poignant criticism for the star wide receiver after a rocky start against Florida State.

Harris issued a call to action to Williams, who didn’t play in last week’s victory over Louisiana-Monroe as he worked his way back from a concussion. Now an analyst for CBS, Harris called for Williams to be more of a factor in Saturday’s game vs. Wisconsin after he had just five receptions for 30 yards against Florida State.

Williams made his presence known last year as a true freshman, making a major impact in Alabama’s victory over Georgia. That was his last 100-yard game to date, which is why Harris wants to see more going forward now that he’s back from injury.

“Where the hell is Ryan Williams?” Harris said Saturday. “Do we need to put out a missing person report? Do we need to alert the authorities because, my brother – I’m going to go back to the Florida State game because that’s the only tape I’ve got of you so far. But AJ [McCarron], he sat up here and said a lot of things. To me, he looked out of shape, he looked bigger than what he needs to be, he didn’t look confident. … He hasn’t had a 100-yard game since Georgia. He hasn’t had a touchdown since, what was it, Mercer last year? I mean, we’re going back five, six, seven, eight [games] all the way back to the Georgia game last year.

“Listen, I love the fact that Alabama looked good last week against a high school football team. What I don’t like is I don’t know what’s up with Ryan Williams. I don’t know if he’s going to come back and are we going to get the version at the beginning of last year, or is he going to come back and be the same Ryan Williams we saw against Florida State? Because at that point, it’s not worth coming back. I hate to be so blunt-honest, but you were a non-factor, my brother, against Florida State. You were a non-factor. So if you are going to come back and continue to be a non-factor, then you might as well take the Ja’Marr Chase route. Just sit out and wait to go pro.”

As a true freshman in 2024, Williams had 48 receptions for 865 yards and eight touchdowns to lead Alabama receivers. He’s also capitalizing on the NIL front, gracing the cover of EA Sports College Football 26 alongside fellow standout receiver Jeremiah Smith.

With that, Damien Harris said Williams is a rising star both on and off the field. But he wants to see more on the gridiron, rather than on social media.

“I am going to say, Ryan Williams, brother, I’ve talked to you on the sideline, personally,” Harris said. “I’ve talked to you. I know you. … I’ve heard you say the right things. You’re a great young man. You’ve got a great smile. You do a lot of things well. We need to see you deliver on the football field more than we see you deliver on TikTok and on Instagram and on Snapchat.

“Get on the field, be the leader, be the best player on the football field – not just for Alabama today. On the football field.”