Former Alabama football coach Nick Saban did not taper down his praise of Crimson Tide star freshman wide receiver Ryan Williams.

In a "College GameDay" segment comparing freshman impact throughout college football from players such as Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava and Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, Saban said Williams is in a league of his own as a 17-year-old.

"Ryan Williams is a mature competitor, man," Saban said. "He's one of the most mature kids I have ever recruited. As a freshman, he's shown maturity. And what that really tells you when a guy's a mature competitor is he can focus on the things that matter."

For a 17-year-old, Saban said, Williams "is explosive, he's got great hands, he can run after the catch" and play like another former Alabama receiver.

"I think this guy reminds me of Amari Cooper as a freshman, and I think this guy has a great career," Saban said.

Who is Ryan Williams?

Williams was the No. 4 player and the No. 3 receiver in the 2024 recruiting class. He reclassified to the 2024 class after his junior football season at Saraland High School in Alabama where he was a two-time Mr. Football award winner and a Gatorade Player of the Year.

Williams initially committed to Saban and Alabama in October 2022, but re-opened his recruitment after Saban's retirement. Williams rejoined the Crimson Tide's 2024 class Jan. 24.

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In three games with the Crimson Tide, Williams has six catches for 207 yards and three touchdowns.

Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at cgay@gannett.com or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter. 

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Nick Saban compares Ryan Williams to former star Alabama football WR