Alabama's DeBoer on why Ryan Williams wasn't thrown to in Iron Bowl

Alabama football WR Ryan Williams played 38 snaps for the Crimson Tide against archrival Auburn on Saturday, but in a 27-20 Crimson Tide victory, the sophomore wasn't targeted even once in the passing game.

For a player who has recorded some big performances in some big games over two years at Alabama, that's surprising, despite his lack of consistency as a sophomore this season. But UA coach Kalen DeBoer said Williams' lack of production in the Iron Bowl was incidental to his role.

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"He was out there. There's nothing to read into there at all. There were opportunities where the ball could've found him," DeBoer said Sunday. "The plays that ... it's not like they're designed specifically for him. That's really not how a lot of our offense is. There might be screens and things like that that are intentionally trying to get (players) touches. But as far as pass concepts, we just didn't get to him in the route, or things like that.

"We've got to be intentional because he's a playmaker for us. The ball just found some other guys and they made plays, like you saw with Isaiah Horton."

Williams had a spectacular freshman season in 2024 for the Crimson Tide, leading the team in receiving yards (865) and touchdown catches (eight). This season, however, he's been slowed by injury and has had trouble with drops as well. Williams has 40 catches for 598 yards this season, but has been less of a factor in the offense late in the season.

Reach Tuscaloosa News columnist Chase Goodbread at [email protected]. Follow on X @chasegoodbread.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama's DeBoer on why Ryan Williams wasn't thrown to in Iron Bowl