Auburn linebacker DeMarcus Riddick is apparently not that impressed by star Alabama freshman wide receiver Ryan Williams' game.
Williams has impressed the nation with highlight reel catches and runs after the catch all season long. Williams is the Crimson Tide’s leading receiver with 804 receiving yards and eight touchdown catches. The 17-year-old has also been a threat on the ground with two touchdowns on just three carries. Most of the world has been impressed by the freshman phenom, but one Auburn defender isn't worried.
Auburn linebacker DeMarcus Riddick acknowledged Williams as an "electric player" as he spoke to the media on Monday, but he doesn't think the freshman is a "big-time player."
"I mean, yeah he’s electric," Riddick told reporters in Auburn on Monday. "Yeah he’s all this and that, but in my eyes, he ain’t really nobody to me. Ryan Williams is himself. He ain’t no big-time player to me.”
Easy for Riddick to say since he doesn’t have the task of having to cover Williams. However, Riddick will be responsible for containing Jalen Milroe, and he gave his thoughts on the importance of keeping the quarterback in check in the run game.
"It’s going to be real important to this game I would say," Riddick said. "He is a good quarterback. He’s fast, but I mean, he’s not faster than me. He will not get out of that box this week. That’s something I’m going to have to work on all week this week at practice, and something that some of the guys are going to have to help me with."
Milroe is coming off a rough week offensively, but he leads the Crimson Tide in rushing with 615 yards and rushing touchdowns with 17.
While you have to respect the confidence of Riddick, the Crimson Tide coaching staff has to be thrilled to have the extra bulletin board material. With nothing left to really play for by Alabama’s standards, Riddick’s comments should help light a fire under a team that desperately needs it after last week’s performance.
Alabama will be hosting the Iron Bowl in Tuscaloosa. The Crimson Tide have a four-game win streak over Auburn and have not lost to Auburn in Tuscaloosa since 2010.
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