Roydell Williams entered Tuscaloosa as the highest-rated prospect in the state of Alabama, ready to make an impact on the Crimson Tide’s backfield.

The Hueytown star had totaled over 6,000 career all-purpose yards and scored 92 total touchdowns. And with that stardom came little reps on special teams, an aspect of the game that can be used to conserve top players’ energy. Not at Alabama, though.

When Williams and fellow class of 2020 new running back Jase McClellan found themselves looking up at Brian Robinson and Najee Harris on the depth chart. Before Williams and McClellan, now seniors, took a handoff, they were recording snaps for the Crimson Tide special teams unit. It’s less of a rite of passage and more of a way to seize opportunity.

“Like Coach (Nick Saban) said, there’s 41 spots. If you want to play on the University of Alabama football team, that’s one way to start there. That’s where I kind of made my impact on special teams, found out how important it is. In high school, I really didn’t play much special teams. But when I got here I realized how important it was, how impactful it was for field position, or how to get points here, how we get points there. Just being an important player in that position on special teams,” Williams reflected on Tuesday.

It’s important to note that he and Williams weren’t returners. In fact, McClellan’s lone career special teams touchdown came when he scooped and scored a blocked punt. McClellan said playing on special teams helps him in “getting a feel” for the game, while a majority of his handoffs came late in blowouts. Last fall, even third-leading wide receiver Ja’Corey Brooks blocked a punt against Louisiana-Monroe.

This fall, with the three running backs already rostered — Jam Miller, McClellan and Williams —  being paired with a pair of blue-chip freshmen in Justice Haynes and Richard Young, another question asked in fall camp. With talent spread around the room, how can each of them see the field?

“Everybody has to show how they can be used in a positive way. That’s a position where guys have been really good special teams players,” Saban said. “If they can contribute on special teams, as well as, we’ve had as many as three guys have a strong input into how they’ve been able to impact the team at one time. That’s a position where we can do it.”

On the returning front, Alabama should have punts covered with Kool-Aid McKinstry around for at least his junior season. Saban also noted second-year wide reciever Isaiah Bond, freshman safety Caleb Downs and freshman receiver Cole Adams as other options on punts. Sophomores Kendrick Law and Emanuel Henderson, himself a former highly-recruited in-state running back, on kickoff duty.

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Nick Alvarez is a reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @nick_a_alvarez or email him at [email protected].