Ryan Williams isn't hiding the Alabama football wide receiver he wants to emulate.

The Crimson Tide 17-year-old star freshman receiver said he wants to be like DeVonta Smith, "being roughly the same size when he came in."

"He was a Heisman Trophy winner," Williams said Friday. "That's what I'm striving for."

But Williams' desire to be like Smith was known well before his interview Friday. On a recent episode of his "New Wave" podcast with freshman cornerback Jaylen Mbakwe, Williams said Smith was his "No. 1," but said "don't think I ain't coming for you."

Throughout the recruiting process, Williams said he and Mbakwe talked about having a platform to share thoughts like this. And during a 2023 visit to Alabama, Williams remembers it was something former Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban encouraged.

"As recruits, we knew we wanted to do something like a podcast because we always feed off each other," Williams said. "And it was actually coach Saban. he gave us a look and was like, 'That's a good idea.'

"Everybody has kept supporting us, and Alabama has done a great job of allowing us to express ourselves and share it on a platform."

In three games, Williams has already become a star for the Alabama offense, bringing in 10 catches for 285 yards and four touchdowns. And it's led to him being recognized throughout campus, something he's relishing.

"I just still try to treat it like it's normal," Williams said. "A lot of my friends, we still go everywhere we want to. I take a couple extra pictures compared to everyone else. But we just try to have a good time. I don't even worry about it."

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 Columbus Dispatch: Nick Saban encouraged Ryan Williams to start podcast with Alabama football