Ryan Williams played one of the best games of his college football career against Wisconsin on Saturday. Alabama fans do not seem to mind that he paints his nails and carries a stuffed animal!
I have been impressed with their ability to keep their mouths shut over the first three weeks of the season but I worry they might turn on their star receiver if he does not keep this up.
Williams finally explained why he carries the plush T-Rex before every college football game. It is not nearly as serious as people on the internet made it out to be. Shocker!
Ryan Williams popped off against the Badgers.
The Crimson Tide struggled to get Williams going during its loss to the Florida State Seminoles. He was knocked out of the game with a concussion after just five catches for 30 yards.
His return on Saturday was five and a half times better than his 2025 debut.
Ryan Williams caught five passes for the second game in a row but he went for 165 yards and two touchdowns. He also snatched some ankles on the sideline.
Watch ya ankles. 👀@Ryanwms1
— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) September 13, 2025
📺: ABC pic.twitter.com/xaAIYyXCSI
Here’s another look:
Ryan Williams made 'em look silly 🤭 @AlabamaFTBL pic.twitter.com/sE9XdwOm18
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) September 13, 2025
Just ridiculous. That is the five-star pass-catcher we remembered from a year ago!
What is up with the T-Rex?
Ryan Williams does not care what people think of him. He marches to the beat of his own drum.
The 18-year-old sparked manufactured outrage by painting his nails orange last season even though it ultimately led to a lucrative NIL deal. Joke is on his haters.
Williams also carries a stuffed animal from the team bus to the locker room before every game.
Ryan Williams pulled up to Alabama's season opener with a T-Rex stuffed animal 😂
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) August 30, 2025
Watch No. 8 Alabama at Florida State at 3:30 PM ET on ABC and the ESPN App ➡️ https://t.co/K9CBity0mu pic.twitter.com/TcQdygZXRT
As you could imagine, the ridicule was endless. Especially after Alabama lost to Florida State.
“Nick Saban would never allow his best player to carry a stuffed animal!” “Is the Crimson Tide soft?”
Those are some of the nicer things (certain) people were saying. They were ruthless. It was cruel.
However, according to Ryan Williams himself, the plush T-Rex is not that serious.
It is not for emotional support. It is not to make a statement. He has had the stuffed animal for awhile. The athletic training staff helped to get the stuffed animal ready to play.
Ryan Williams on the plush T. Rex he's carried before each game: "I got it going into my freshman year. … The training staff made it look all stylish and stuff.
— Charlie Potter (@Charlie_Potter) September 13, 2025
"It's nothing too serious. It's just something that I got from a friend." pic.twitter.com/pYFiiq7e7g
Fair enough. I still don’t get it but I also didn’t go for 100+ yards and two touchdowns.