Will Ryan Williams get more of the ball in Alabama football against Tennessee?

After securing Alabama football superstar status with his game-winning catch against Georgia, Ryan Williams was a little calmer. After that six-catch, 177-yard effort to defeat the Bulldogs, the freshman from Saraland added 82 yards on three catches against Vanderbilt and four grabs for 32 yards on Saturday against South Carolina.

On Monday, Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer said there were times he would have liked to have seen the youngster get the ball against the Gamecocks.

“There were a few more that didn’t get to him or weren’t completed,” DeBoer said. “With those we really tried to be purposeful, whether it was a screen or just a one-on-one duel. There were one or two other games where the ball could very well have gotten to him further down the line. Just like the other plays he’s made throughout the season, where he may not be the first option, but progression will often take you there.”

Overall, Williams has caught 23 passes for 576 yards. He scored six touchdowns for the Crimson Tide.

Against a Tennessee team that has the potential to put up points quickly, Alabama’s offense will need to be at full speed. According to DeBoer, ideally that would mean more touches for Williams.

“He has to be a guy that we always pay a lot of attention to in terms of the number of targets,” DeBoer said. “I think for the most part we understand who these guys are. A lot of them are in the starting lineup and maybe just the next few players that you really need to make sure are included in the game plan. And that will always be the case. We must continue to emphasize this. It’s something we look at every week as we develop the overall plan.”

Alabama’s receiving group has been a bit thin lately. Kendrick Law suited up but didn’t play against South Carolina after missing the Vanderbilt game with a lower-body injury, while Kobe Prentice sat out with a head injury against the Gamecocks.

Continued absences could provide Williams with more opportunities. On Monday, offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan praised the group’s depth.

“You saw Caleb Odom continue to grow and learn multiple spots, playing different positions on the field,” Sheridan said. Cole (Adams) obviously had some big plays in the game. Just with the rotation of players in action this week, Ryan and (Germie Bernard) have obviously been steady and productive for us, but I think the depth of that room has certainly helped us. E-man (Emmanuel Henderson) had some good moments.

“I know there are other people that I’m probably leaving out, but I think it’s a deep space and they’re improving every week, and coach (JaMarcus Shephard) is doing a great job of mentoring, shaping, coaching, all of the above. And I think those guys definitely contributed and coached us.”

Alabama and Tennessee are scheduled to kick off at Neyland Stadium on Saturday at 2:45 p.m. CT. The game will be broadcast on ABC.