Is Alabama WR Ryan Williams the Barýshnikov of college football? What a ballet professor says

If the whole football thing doesn’t work out for Crimson Tide wide receiver Ryan Williams, joining the Alabama Ballet is a good back up plan.

Williams’ flashy, twirling catch-and-run into the end zone to help Alabama football stun Georgia this past Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium still has football fans everywhere in a chokehold. Even the dance world has been left in awe of the 17 year-old phenom.

University of Alabama dance professor Rita Snyder was watching the game and thought, “Too bad he’s not a ballet dancer.”

Lynn Swann. Barry Sanders. Willie Gault. Herschel Walker.

All have football in common, but they’re tied together by another unexpected thread.

All of them were in ballet classes.

Alabama wide receiver Ryan Williams (2) evades tackles after making a catch against Georgia at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

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Sep 28, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Ryan Williams (2) signals a first down after making an acrobatic catch at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Alabama defeated Georgia 41-34. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-Imagn Images

Sure, their explosiveness made these guys emulate bulls in china shops more than ballerinas. However, dance instructors and football fanatics alike can identify the similarities in footwork, balance and body control.

“Ballet is very athletic, and so there’s a lot of athleticism in what I do,” said Snyder, who is in her 27th and final year teaching ballet at UA. In her tenure, she’s seen a number of Alabama athletes from all sports, former Crimson Tide offensive lineman Von Ewing proving the most memorable with his then-6-foot-5, 292-pound build.

“It’s…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/alabama-wr-ryan-williams-bar-182304306.html

Author : The Tuscaloosa News

Publish date : 2024-10-02 18:23:04

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