For Ryan Williams, Alabama’s playoff mindset was shaped long before the postseason arrived.
“Going back to January, this is the team we knew we had,” Williams said. “Even when winter workouts started, we knew we were a resilient group.”
That belief eventually became a defining word.
“We actually came up with a word for our team,” Williams explained. “And it was unbreakable. That was back in June or July. We knew regardless of an up or a down, we were going to stay unbreakable and resilient because we depended on each other in those January days.”
Early adversity didn’t change that conviction.
“We knew after the Florida State game that we would be able to bounce back and have the run that we had in SEC play,” Williams said. “And we’re here today.”
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Asked if that same mindset applied to Alabama’s comeback against Oklahoma, Williams didn’t hesitate.
“Exactly. One hundred percent,” he said. “It works for pretty much everything we’ve been through this entire season, the good, the bad, the ugly.”
Williams acknowledged that growth hasn’t been limited to the team alone.
“Honestly, this year has been a lot about growth for me personally,” he said. “Dealing with injuries, dealing with things personally, and just continuing to stay resilient.”
He pushed back on outside narratives.
“Whether you call it a sophomore slump or whatever you want to call it, I know who I am,” Williams said. “I know whenever the time is right, my performance will be what’s best for the team.”
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As Alabama prepares for its playoff matchup, Williams spoke respectfully of elite competition, including fellow young stars.
“You always want to have a guy you can lean on and continue to compete with,” he said, referencing his relationship with Jeremiah Smith. “Iron sharpens iron.”
For Williams, the postseason isn’t about reinvention. “It’s football,” he said. “We’re going to play ball.”
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