Getting a naturally gifted playmaker back into rhythm isn't about reinventing the wheel-it's about creating the right environment for those talents to shine. Think of it like having a high-performance sports car: the engine's already there, you just need to find the right roads and give it enough gas to really let it roar. That's exactly the approach Alabama's second-year offensive coordinator, Ryan Grubb, is taking with star wide receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams as we head into 2026.
Grubb's strategy is straightforward: let Williams' natural ability take center stage. This fall, the plan is to put the ball in his hands more often and in situations where his explosive playmaking can truly make an impact. It's a throwback to 2024, when Coleman-Williams burst onto the scene as a true freshman, snagging 48 receptions for 865 yards and eight touchdowns, plus a few rushing scores for good measure.
Back then, with Jalen Milroe at quarterback, the Alabama offense, under Kalen DeBoer and Nick Sheridan, made it a point to move Coleman-Williams around and get him the ball in creative ways-not just as a traditional outside receiver.
His freshman year success, which earned him First-Team All-SEC honors, contrasted sharply with his sophomore slump. With fewer designed touches like jet sweeps and quick screens, and defenses focusing heavily on him, his efficiency dropped. He ended the season with 43 receptions for 636 yards and four touchdowns, while also leading the nation in drops.
Now, heading into a crucial junior year, Grubb is determined to fix this. After Alabama's third spring practice, he addressed how he plans to get Coleman-Williams back on track.
"I could give you all the easy answers, but for Ryan, it's about letting the game come to him," Grubb explained. "He's incredibly talented and works hard.
The ownership he took after last season really stood out to me. It's about making a concerted effort to get him more touches and the ball downfield.
We need to find ways to get the ball in his hands where he can be electric."
With Alabama's offense undergoing a youth movement, Grubb's task is challenging. Coleman-Williams is one of only two returning starters, meaning defenses will likely key in on him. But if Grubb can rediscover the formula that made "Hollywood" a breakout star, allowing his natural explosiveness to take over, the results could mirror his sensational freshman year.
If Grubb succeeds in unleashing that high-powered engine, Alabama's offense could once again boast one of college football's most electrifying playmakers at full throttle.