For the first time ever, an Alabama high school football player has repeated as the state’s Mr. Football.
Tuesday, wide receiver Ryan Williams of Saraland High School was given the state’s prestigious award at the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s Player of the Year banquet in Montgomery. If the 5-star college football prospect hadn’t re-classified from the Class of 2025 to the Class of ’24, there’s a good chance he might have been Mr. Football three years running.
After de-committing from the University of Alabama when Nick Saban retired, Williams re-committed to the Crimson Tide last week.
After leading Saraland to Alabama’s 6A title in 2022, Williams totaled over 2,300 all-purpose yards last season with 30 touchdowns. This past season, the Spartans finished runner-up in 6A and a No. 42 ranking in the High School Football America 300 national rankings, powered by NFL Play Football.
The other finalists for the Mr. Football award were his teammate, KJ Lacey, a junior QB, who has given his verbal to the University of Texas, and Alabama signee offensive standout Jaylen Mbakwe of Clay-Chalkville.
Williams leads the Super All-State team, the top 12 players in the state regardless of classification. He’s joined on the team by Mbakwe of Clay-Chalkville, Cam Coleman of Central (Phenix City), Alvin Henderson of Elba, Ronnie Royal of Gulf Shores, Jacob Cornejo of Cherokee County, Lacey of Saraland, DJ Barber of Clay-Chalkville, KJ Jackson of St. James, Andrew Alford of Central (Phenix City), Malik Blocton of Pike Road and Caleb McCreary of Montgomery Catholic.
