Alabama WR seeks a hard reset in 2026 with a new name and a new number

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Alabama receiver Ryan Williams has a new name and a new number for 2026.

One of the team's most notable players made two notable changes during the offseason. He added Coleman to his now-hyphenated last name to honor his mother and switched from No. 2 to No. 1, returning to the digit he wore in high school for in-state powerhouse Saraland.

Both moves could kick-start a bounceback season for the speedy wideout who struggled to catch the ball last year.

“I have a legacy that I want to write,” Coleman-Williams said Friday. "My mom is a strong part of that. She's my best friend and the name Coleman comes from her. So just want to represent my family to the best of my ability.

“As far as my number, it's just an opportunity to have a hard reset, make me feel like myself again and get ready for a season that doesn't disappoint.”

A preseason All-America selection in 2025, Coleman-Williams had only one 100-yard receiving game last season — in Week 3 against Wisconsin — and led the Football Bowl Subdivision with 13 drops. He finished with 49 receptions for 689 yards and four touchdowns after capturing national attention with 45 catches for 857 yards and eight scores as a freshman.

Alabama reached the College Football Playoff but was dominated in the Rose Bowl, losing 38-3 to eventual national champion Indiana.

“Not necessarily a disappointing (season), but I learned a lot of lessons,” Coleman-Williams said. “I'm just thankful for those lessons and thankful for the opportunity to put some better on display this season.”

Alabama is looking for Coleman-Williams to step into a larger leadership role. He is one of only two returning starters on offense — and the only upperclassman. The Crimson Tide will have a new starting quarterback in 2026, and within Coleman-Williams's position group, there's a new position coach (Derrick Nix) and five new players.

Through the first week of spring practice, coach Kalen DeBoer voiced confidence in how Coleman-Williams has adjusted.

“It feels like he’s seeing an opportunity,” DeBoer said. “He continues to raise the work, raise the level and be efficient in it. He’s always worked. I think where he’s focusing that attention is really intentional. It’s great to see his leadership capabilities. Last year I felt like he took a great step, and now it’s on another level. Our team needs that.”

Coleman-Williams said he “1,000%” feels like his old self through the first few days of practice. That's welcome news as the Crimson Tide's quarterback competition, featuring Austin Mack and Keelon Russell, is one of the most high profile in college football. Creating a bond with Coleman-Williams could be key to winning the job.

And with so many new faces on that side of the ball, getting Coleman-Williams back into his freshman form should help him and the offense maximize their potential.

“He’s so naturally talented and he’s such a hard worker and a great kid,” offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb said. "The ownership he had after the season I think is something that really stands out to me. (We need) a concerted effort on our part to make sure we’re getting him enough touches in every game. If we can’t get him the ball down the field, we got to find a way to get the ball in his hands early.

“He’s shown that he’s really, really electric. If there’s issues with contested catches and things like that, then you got to be more creative and just find ways to get him the football in his hands.”

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FILE - Alabama wide receiver Ryan Williams (2) can't make the catch on fourth down as Oklahoma defensive back Peyton Bowen defends in the closing minutes of the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt,File)

FILE - Alabama wide receiver Ryan Williams (2) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt,File)

BERLIN (AP) — Bayern Munich salvaged a 1-1 draw despite clinging on with nine players at Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday, allowing Borussia Dortmund to cut Bayern's Bundesliga lead to nine points.

Luis Díaz, who scored the equalizer following Aleix García's opener, was sent off in the 84th minute for a second yellow card. Nicolas Jackson, starting with Harry Kane on the bench, received a straight red card for a poor tackle in the 42nd minute.

Leverkusen took the lead in the sixth minute after 18-year-old German-American winger Montrell Culbreath stole the ball off Díaz and fed it to Patrik Schick, who set up García on the edge of the box. The midfielder slotted home with a deflected shot.

The hosts defended well to contain Bayern's attempts to come back, and frustration showed when Jackson was sent off before halftime for a late challenge on Martin Terrier.

Bayern played with third-choice goalkeeper Sven Ulreich because Manuel Neuer has a calf issue and backup Jonas Urbig was concussed in the 6-1 win over Atalanta midweek in the Champions League. Ulreich denied an effort from Schick in a one-on-one situation at the hour mark just before Kane came on.

Back from a calf injury, Kane played for the first time since Feb. 28 after scoring eight goals in his past four Bundesliga games. He fired the ball into an empty net in the 62nd minute but it was disallowed for blocking the goalkeeper's clearance with a hand in the buildup.

Diaz leveled in the 69th with a low shot from Michael Olise's precise setup. The Colombia winger later received a second yellow card for diving and Bayern was down to nine men with six minutes left to play. The hosts could not snatch the win despite pushing hard until the end as Jonas Hofmann had a goal ruled out deep in stoppage time.

Bayern hasn’t won at Leverkusen in the league since October 2021, and heads back there next month for a German Cup semifinal.

Sixth-place Leverkusen missed a chance for what would have been only its second win in seven games in all competitions. It's drawn five of the last six and heads into a Champions League second leg game at Arsenal on Tuesday after a 1-1 draw in the first leg.

Dortmund was in total control throughout the first half and Augsburg was lucky to trail by just one goal at halftime. Karim Adeyemi broke the deadlock in the 13th and had several other chances, hitting the woodwork twice. Luca Reggiani made it 2-0 in the 59th.

Hoffenheim, aiming to qualify for Champions League for first time since the 2018-19 season, stayed third — 17 points behind Bayern — after a 1-1 draw with relegation-threatened Wolfsburg, which was playing its first game under new coach Dieter Hecking.

Eintracht Frankfurt beat Heidenheim 1-0 with a goal from Arnaud Kalimuendo. Hamburger SV was playing Cologne later Saturday.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Referee Christian Dingert shows a yellow card to Bayern's Luis Diaz during a German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich in Leverkusen, Germany, Saturday, March 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Dortmund's Karim Adeyemi, center left, scores the opening goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and FC Augsburg in Dortmund, Germany, Saturday, March 14, 2026. (Bernd Thissen/dpa via AP)

From left, Leverkusen's Patrik Schick, Bayern's Jonathan Tah, Bayern's Luis Diaz, Leverkusen's Montrell Culbreath in action during a German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich in Leverkusen, Germany, Saturday, March 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Bayern's goalkeeper Sven Ulreich fails to save the goal from Leverkusen's Aleix Garcia, unseen, during a German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich in Leverkusen, Germany, Saturday, March 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Bayern's Luis Diaz celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during a German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich in Leverkusen, Germany, Saturday, March 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)