Ryan Williams of Alabama discusses his offseason training sessions with DeVonta Smith.

Forging Greatness: Ryan Williams’ Offseason Journey with DeVonta Smith

When the University of Alabama’s roster turns over each spring, fresh faces emerge intent on carving their names into the Crimson Tide’s storied legacy. Among these is redshirt freshman wide receiver Ryan Williams, a player whose blend of natural talent and unshakeable work ethic quickly earned him attention. But during this past offseason, Williams did more than polish route-running or pound through agility drills—he partnered with Alabama legend and 2020 Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith, gaining rare insight and mentorship that promises to accelerate his rise.

A Meeting of Generations

For Williams, the chance encounter with Smith felt almost serendipitous. Having arrived on campus in January, he immediately impressed coaches during spring workouts with crisp footwork and safe hands. Yet beyond the field, Williams sought something more—an education in what it takes to succeed at the highest level. Enter DeVonta Smith, whose own offseason program had become the stuff of University folklore: starting at dawn, finishing after sunset, a regimen blending weight training, film study, and specialized skill work.

“When I first heard that DeVonta was open to helping younger receivers, I was shocked,” Williams recalls, seated on a training room bench at the Alabama athletic facility. “Here’s a guy who’s dominating in the NFL, and he’s here, sharing the same bleachers and pushing you like you’re his teammate.”

Smith, now in his third NFL season with the Philadelphia Eagles and blossoming into one of the league’s premier route runners, made time during his hometown visits to return to Tuscaloosa. What began as a casual throw-around soon morphed into fully scheduled, daily training sessions—each meticulously planned to sharpen Williams’s raw ability and instill pro-level habits.

Blueprint for an Elite Receiver

Over seven weeks of offseason work, Williams and Smith met five days a week. They’d begin at 6:30 a.m. in the indoor practice facility, running through cone breaks designed to replicate in-game cuts, then transition to the weight room for plyometrics and core work. By late afternoon, they’d huddle in the film room with receivers coach Drew Burns, dissecting NFL and college tape side by side.

“It was like getting a masterclass,” says Williams. “Regular guys just run routes and lift weights. But DeVonta showed me how to read off coverage, anticipate breaks, and even how to breathe through pain. He treated every rep like a game situation.”

Smith, for his part, relished the opportunity to give back. “I wouldn’t be where I am without the guys who took time with me,” he explains. “If I can help Ryan avoid mistakes I made, why not? The NFL is great, but I still bleed Alabama crimson.”

Their workouts incorporated some unconventional elements, too. On alternating days, Williams would sprint with weighted parachutes strapped around his waist—an exercise Smith introduced to enhance his own explosion off the line. They also practiced “phase training,” where Williams would catch tennis balls to work on hand-eye coordination and snag footballs while balancing on wobble boards to simulate mid-route concentration under duress.

Fitness tracker data from these sessions revealed a startling improvement: Williams’s 40-yard dash time dropped from an official 4.55 seconds at spring testing to an unofficial 4.47 during a training session late in the program. Vertical jump numbers leapt by nearly two inches, and shuttle-run times shaved off a tenth of a second—a quantum leap when tenths are the difference between first and third in split-second plays.

Lessons Beyond the Field

Yet the true value of the partnership transcended raw numbers. Williams emerged from the offseason with a newfound mental toughness and confidence in his preparation. He adopted Smith’s nightly ritual of journaling insights from the day’s practice, recording both wins and areas needing improvement. He began waking at exactly the same time every morning to normalize his sleep cycles and maximize recovery.

Perhaps most importantly, Smith imparted the often-overlooked art of resilience. “There were days when the workouts felt brutal,” Williams admits. “My legs would shake after the ladder drills, and my hands felt sloppy in the passing gauntlet. But DeVonta would remind me that the difference between a good receiver and a great one is how you respond when your body is screaming ‘stop.’”

These moments—pushing through fatigue, demanding precision when fatigued—prepared Williams not only for the upcoming season but for the rigors of collegiate competition, where games are often decided by nuances only the most prepared can exploit.

Spring Game Showcase and Beyond

Williams’s growth was on full display during Alabama’s spring game. In a defensive backfield brimming with NFL prospects, Williams ran crisp routes and made multiple contested catches, drawing praise from position coaches and drawing cheers from the fans. For many observers, his performance marked him as a potential breakout candidate for the fall.

“It’s one thing to talk a good game,” said receivers coach Drew Burns after the scrimmage. “But Ryan’s execution, his ability to adjust on the fly, that’s what separates him. You could see DeVonta’s fingerprints on his game.”

Off the field, Williams’s academic diligence also flourished. He balanced a full load of architectural design courses while maintaining a string of A’s—mirroring Smith, who graduated with honors before ascending to the NFL. Both athletes emphasize that discipline in the classroom informs discipline on the field, forging a holistic approach to excellence.

The Mentorship Model

The Williams–Smith partnership underscores a broader philosophy within Alabama’s program: building mentorship bridges between established alumni and incoming talent. Head coach Nick Saban has often spoken of the value of such relationships, noting that they cultivate leadership and continuity in the locker room.

“Ryan learning from DeVonta is exactly what we want,” Saban said in a recent press conference. “When you have a Heisman winner taking a freshman under his wing, it accelerates the learning curve. It’s infectious for the entire team.”

Smith’s involvement has paved the way for similar mentorships. Rumors have circulated of linebacker coach Tosh Lupoi facilitating offseason sessions between veteran linebacker Christopher Allen and a pair of incoming freshman tacklers. The trend appears to be growing, positioning Alabama to maintain its pipeline of talent development even as players enter the NFL at an unprecedented rate.

Looking Toward the 2025 Season

As the fall semester commences, Williams finds himself at a crossroads. Competing for playing time alongside established starters, he now boots up with the confidence that only real growth can bring. Gone are the uncertainties of a freshman aiming for a spot on special teams—replaced by the quiet assurance that he belongs.

“Every day, I think about what I learned from DeVonta,” Williams reflects. “Not just how to run a route, but how to carry myself as a professional. That’s the gift he gave me.”

Smith, meanwhile, tracks Williams’s progress from Philadelphia, sending video breakdowns and motivational texts. He’s promised to visit again come winter break, when he’ll conduct another series of personal workouts. Though Smith’s own career soars—with every reception and touchdown solidifying his NFL legacy—he remains tethered to Tuscaloosa by this simple act of mentorship.

If Williams can harness the lessons and habits instilled by Smith, the 2025 season could witness the emergence of a new star in Crimson Tide lore. One whose name, like those before him, will be etched into the annals of Alabama football—branded forever with the hard-earned lessons of offseason dedication shared between a rising prospect and a Heisman champion.

Conclusion: More Than Just Training

The story of Ryan Williams’s offseason is more than a chronicle of sled pushes and route trees. It’s a testament to the transformative power of mentorship, the strategic cultivation of elite habits, and the relentless pursuit of excellence that defines Alabama football.

Through early mornings, grueling sessions, and mutual respect, Williams discovered not just how to be faster or stronger, but how to think, prepare, and carry himself as a professional. In DeVonta Smith, he found both a teacher and an exemplar—proof that greatness is rarely achieved in isolation, but forged in the crucible of shared effort and guided ambition.

As the 2025 campaign approaches, all eyes will be on the young receiver who trained alongside a legend. But perhaps the greater story is already written in the hours of sacrifice and the quiet moments of growth that occurred long before the stadium lights blink on. In that narrative, Williams and Smith together crafted a blueprint for greatness—one that may inspire generations of Crimson Tide players yet to arrive.