Ty Simpson and teammates believe Ryan Coleman-Williams' transformation heralds an explosive season, ready to redefine expectations after a crucial year of growth.
There’s something different about Alabama this spring, and if you were paying attention at pro day, you could feel it.
Former Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson made his way back to Tuscaloosa on Wednesday and stepped right into the spotlight, throwing in front of NFL scouts during the Crimson Tide’s pro day.
He worked with a mix of draft prospects and current players, but one name kept standing out.
Ryan Coleman-Williams.
And Simpson didn’t hesitate when asked about him.
“Did y’all see him? You tell me,” Simpson said. “You see how big he is. He’s gained so much weight. He’s growing up. You can tell he’s the big guy in the room now. I’m so happy for him and so proud of him because I know how much football and Alabama means to him. We talk all the time. He’s like a little brother. He’s gonna ball out this year, so like I said, y’all can write it down. Ryan’s going to have a really good year.”
That’s not just hype, that’s belief.
And it’s coming from someone who knows exactly what it takes to lead in Tuscaloosa.
Because the truth is, Coleman-Williams’ journey hasn’t been a straight line.
After bursting onto the scene as a 17-year-old freshman in 2024 and becoming one of the most talked-about young players in college football, expectations skyrocketed. Then came 2025, a season that didn’t quite match the noise.
A “down year” by Alabama standards, but more importantly, a year of growth.
And sometimes, that’s exactly what a player needs.
This offseason has been about transformation.
Coleman-Williams didn’t just change his number, moving from No. 2 to No. 1, he embraced something deeper.
He added his mother’s last name, making a statement about identity, purpose, and who he’s playing for.
That matters.
So does the work behind the scenes: the added size, the maturity, the mindset shift.
And it’s not just Simpson seeing it.
Former Alabama wide receiver Germie Bernard, who led the Tide in receiving yards last season, also returned for pro day and made it clear this isn’t anything new, it’s just the next step.
“Ryan’s been mature since the first day he stepped on campus,” Bernard said. “He has a go-getter mindset. He’s slowly developing into a pro, and that was just great to see the growth, man, and just being able to be here and be able to have someone to lean on like older guys like me..... Just being able to ask questions and just being a sponge and wanting to learn and get better each week and each day. He’s a guy that is very resilient, a guy that is always consistent with what he does no matter how the performance is, so Ryan, he’s in for a great season this year.”
That word, consistent, might be the most important one in that entire quote.
Because talent was never the question.
Now? It’s about putting it all together.
And if you listen closely, the people inside that program are telling you exactly what’s coming.
Ryan Coleman-Williams isn’t just back.
He’s ready.
And this time, he’s not chasing expectations, he’s about to redefine them.