The insult of losing as a two-touchdown favorite to a Florida State team that went 2-10 last season came with a particularly notable injury for Alabama.
In the fourth quarter of the No. 8 Crimson Tide’s season-opening 31-17 loss against the Seminoles on Saturday, Aug. 30 at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, Alabama wide receiver Ryan Williams exited the game after absorbing a big hit while trying to catch a pass over the middle.
To that point in the game, Williams had five catches for 30 yards.
Williams exploded onto the college football scene last season as a 17-year-old phenom who had 865 receiving yards and eight touchdown catches while earning first-team All-SEC recognition as a freshman.
Here’s the latest on Williams’ injury:
Ryan Williams injury update
With about six minutes remaining and his team trailing by 14 points, Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson attempted to connect with Williams across the middle on a second-and-10, but Williams was unable to hold on to the ball.
After the drop, Williams was hit by a pair of Florida State defensive backs, including Earl Little Jr., who was initially penalized for targeting. Williams remained on the turf after the play and was tended to by Alabama trainers before being able to walk off the field with team medical personnel on either side of him.
Upon review, the targeting penalty was overturned. Shortly after leaving the field, Williams was taken back to the Crimson Tide locker room. He did not return to the game.
In his post-game news conference, Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer confirmed that Williams had suffered a concussion on the play.
The Crimson Tide return to action on Sept. 6 with a home game against Louisiana Monroe.