If you have a kid who walks into the facility on the first day and asks to be given the same training plan as Alabama legend DeVonta Smith, a kid who wore “Kill Everybody” eye black to the Georgia game and did just that, If When you rip the hearts out of the Bulldogs on national television with moves I’ve only seen at the Olympics, you know you can coach him a little harder than others.

Ryan Williams wants to be great. Not just great, but an all-time great. His eyes are focused on the Heisman Trophy highs of Smith and the other legends who wore crimson and white before him. He isn’t intimidated by any of that. He’s only 17 years old and has the mentality of a seasoned veteran. As the kids would say, he’s a dog.

Williams was probably disappointed last week to find out he’s only human. Who should blame him anyway? When you’re doing the things he’s capable of at such a young age, it’s only natural to feel invincible.

Williams scored a touchdown in the first five games of his collegiate career. Last week against South Carolina, he was held out of the end zone and finished with just four catches and 32 yards.

There was a lot of talk about Williams getting double-teamed by Gamecock’s defensive backs last week. WR coach JaMarcus Shepherd shut down that idea on Wednesday, calling out his freshman receiver through the media.

“I didn’t see it,” Shepherd said of the comments about Williams being double-teamed. “True freshman. He can’t be that smart. He can’t know everything. So at some point you hit a wall as a freshman and some of that production tends to go down. I wouldn’t double him. “

There’s a reason Nick Saban wanted to hire Shepherd to coach receivers, and I’m sure if and when he hears those comments it will bring a wry smile. Saban was known for sending messages to his team through the media, and that’s exactly what Shepherd does here.

Because Williams has that killer instinct. You know it pisses him off when he hears his own coach say he doesn’t want to double him, and after one down game he hits the freshman wall. It probably kept him awake last night.

Williams heard all the noise. As talented as he was, there was no way a 17-year-old could start for Alabama in high school. And when he did start, the Tide’s receivers clearly weren’t as good as in previous seasons. There was no way he was going to produce at a high level. He’s too young. He’s too skinny.

All Williams has done is look like one of the best receivers – in any class – in the country to date. He has developed a special bond with Jalen Milroe, and the simple 4+2+6 math problem has sparked opposing defenses.

Shepherd refuses to let his young receiver become complacent. One play where he couldn’t find the end zone was enough for the coach to twist the narrative in his favor and add some fuel to the ever-burning fire at Williams.

The best is yet to come for the young freshman, and after his position coach’s comments, don’t be surprised if we see the best version of Williams we’ve seen yet in Knoxville. If there’s one player who relishes the opportunity to play in a hostile environment, it’s the kid they call Hollywood.