Where did Saraland star and Alabama 2025 commit Ryan Williams go to celebrate being named the state’s Mr. Football on Thursday night?

Dinner?

Home?

Disney World?

Nope. Actually, he went back to work.

“He asked me right after his name was announced, ‘Are we still working out tonight?’” his father, Ryan Williams Sr., said following Thursday’s lunch banquet in Montgomery.

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That trademark work ethic has transformed the younger Williams from an inexperienced backup quarterback two years ago to one of the state’s most dynamic, playmaking wide receivers as a 15-year-old sophomore.

He doesn’t take breaks. He doesn’t take shortcuts.

“I’ve been with him since the jump – all the workouts in the backyard,” his dad said. “Honestly putting in all the work is now paying off. As a football lover, when you see a kid putting in the work and he gets he is supposed to get out of it, it’s a win.

“But, as a dad, I’m so proud. I shed a tear when his name was called, just knowing that it was all worth it. The road hasn’t been all smooth. There have been hills and valleys. To see him come out on top and want to continue to work … I’m proud of him.”

The younger Williams accounted for 42 touchdowns in 2022 as Saraland went 14-1 and won the Class 6A state title. He is the first sophomore Mr. Football and just the second non-senior to win in the 41-year history of the award.

“Lord willing, I plan on winning it again next season,” he said with a smile.

Saraland coach Jeff Kelly took a chance two years ago, moving Williams out of the backup quarterback role to wide receiver after he witnessed him running offseason pass routes with a teammate.

“I’m going to be honest. I wasn’t too big on it,” Williams said of the position change. “I had played quarterback my whole life, and it was just like, ‘Well, I guess I’ll try receiver.’ Now I love it, and it’s like second nature to me.”

His father said the move didn’t bother him.

“He’s always worked to be a great football player,” Williams Sr. said. “It just so happened that he was always a quarterback on his team. You want the ball in your best players hands when you are on young teams, so he played quarterback. I told him that if you want to make your value go up always be able to be on the field. Versatility keeps you on the field. He took to it, embraced the challenge and it has paid off big time.”

The Class 6A Back of the Year caught 88 passes for 1,641 yards and 24 touchdowns during the Spartans’ title run. He also rushed 57 times for 700 yards and 15 TDs, threw a touchdown pass and scored on a pair of punt returns.

And he still can’t drive himself to practice or games.

Williams won’t be 16 until next month.

“Whatever comes to him is based on hard work,” Williams Sr. said. “You can take all the awards away, but you will still have the work. He knows he has to go earn it every time out.”

Though his father signed with Auburn out of Mobile’s B.C. Rain High School, Williams committed to Alabama in October.

“It just felt right,” he said of his decision. “Not just in the moment, but every time I went back up there. They just continued to show me love.”

Williams Sr. also was a wide receiver in high school before then-defensive coordinator Will Muschamp moved him to defensive back at Auburn. He finished his college career at Louisiana Tech.

He said he was “cool” with his son’s decision to play for the Crimson Tide.

“It’s his decision. It’s his life,” he said. “I just want him to be happy. Times have changed. The state of football has changed since I came out in 2007. He has to go to school and live on campus and go to workouts not me, so whatever he wants to do, I’m good with it.”

When asked if he could have covered his son in his younger days, Williams Sr. hesitated for just a moment before shaking his head.

“I would probably say no,” he said. “He’s light years ahead of where I was when I was 15. Kids are doing so much more now training wise. The game has changed.”

Jimmy Stein, a team expert for On3′s Bama Insider, compares Williams to former Alabama Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith.

“Ryan reminds me a lot of something I used to say about DeVonta Smith — I would say ‘I don’t know where DeVonta is right now, but I can just promise you he is open,’” Stein said. “That’s Ryan. He’s open. He gains separation like Kobe Bryant creating his own shot. Then he completes the play with soft hands, and he scores. It takes an amazing player to be Mr. Football as a sophomore. And he’s amazing. The supporting cast helps.

“But Ryan is one of a kind.”