# Roydell Williams (running back)
**Roydell Williams** is an [American football](https://www.edgepedia.org/american-football) running back from Hueytown, Alabama, who played college football for the [Alabama Crimson Tide](https://www.edgepedia.org/alabama-crimson-tide) and the [Florida State Seminoles](https://www.edgepedia.org/florida-state-seminoles) and signed with the Detroit Lions in August 2026 after going undrafted.[1](https://rolltide.com/sports/football/roster/roydell-williams/8850) • [2](https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/lions-roydell-williams-signs-with-detroit/) He is a different player from the wide receiver of the same name, a Tulane product born in 1981 who played for the Tennessee Titans and Washington.[3](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WillRo05.htm)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Position, size | Running back; 5 ft 10 in, 214 lb at Alabama[1](https://rolltide.com/sports/football/roster/roydell-williams/8850) |
| College career | 56 games, 275 carries, 1,264 rushing yards, 13 rushing touchdowns; 28 catches for 217 yards and 2 scores[4](https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/roydell-williams-2.html) |
| Alabama (2020–2023) | 45 games, 234 carries, 1,165 yards (5.0 per carry), 11 touchdowns[4](https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/roydell-williams-2.html) |
| Best season | 2023: 111 carries for 560 yards and 5 touchdowns, plus 11 receptions, in 14 games[4](https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/roydell-williams-2.html) |
| Florida State (2024–2025) | 11 games, 41 carries, 99 yards, 4 touchdowns[4](https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/roydell-williams-2.html) |
| High school | 5,929 career rushing yards and 84 rushing touchdowns at Hueytown High School; consensus four-star prospect[1](https://rolltide.com/sports/football/roster/roydell-williams/8850) |
| NFL | Undrafted; signed by the Colts in July 2026, waived August 19, signed with the Lions on August 24, 2026[2](https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/lions-roydell-williams-signs-with-detroit/) |
## High school
Williams played for head coach Greg Patterson at Hueytown High School, where he helped the Golden Gophers reach the 6A state semifinals. He recorded three straight 1,000-yard rushing seasons and finished with 5,929 career rushing yards and 84 rushing touchdowns, 92 total touchdowns. As a junior in 2018 he gained 2,757 yards and scored 32 touchdowns while catching 21 passes for 216 yards and three more scores; as a senior he rushed for 1,289 yards and 24 scores with injuries limiting his production.[1](https://rolltide.com/sports/football/roster/roydell-williams/8850)
Recruiting services rated him highly. He was a consensus four-star prospect, ranked 76th on the 247Composite as the No. 9 running back and No. 4 player in Alabama; ESPN placed him 69th on the ESPN300, Rivals 90th in the Rivals100, and 247Sports 115th in the Top247. He was selected for the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game and chose Alabama over Auburn, Florida, Florida State, and Kentucky.[1](https://rolltide.com/sports/football/roster/roydell-williams/8850)
## College career
**Alabama, 2020–2023.** Williams spent four seasons in a deep Crimson Tide backfield, paired at times with Jase McClellan, and also worked on special teams throughout.[1](https://rolltide.com/sports/football/roster/roydell-williams/8850) As a freshman in 2020 he rushed 19 times for 71 yards and a touchdown in eight games, scoring his first career touchdown against Kentucky.[1](https://rolltide.com/sports/football/roster/roydell-williams/8850) • [4](https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/roydell-williams-2.html) In 2021 he stepped into a larger role after McClellan's injury and totaled 284 yards and a touchdown on 48 carries, including a career-best 110 yards on 11 carries against Southern Miss, before suffering a season-ending leg injury against New Mexico State.[1](https://rolltide.com/sports/football/roster/roydell-williams/8850)
His 2022 junior season produced 250 yards and four touchdowns on 56 carries, with two scores against LSU and a five-yard touchdown run against Auburn.[1](https://rolltide.com/sports/football/roster/roydell-williams/8850) 2023 was his most productive season: 111 carries for 560 yards and five touchdowns, 11 receptions for 58 yards and a score, two kickoff returns for 51 yards, and four tackles on special teams in 14 games.[1](https://rolltide.com/sports/football/roster/roydell-williams/8850) • [4](https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/roydell-williams-2.html) His career game came at [South Florida](https://www.edgepedia.org/south-florida), where he rushed 17 times for 129 yards and a touchdown at 7.6 yards per carry with a long rush of 48 yards, leading Alabama's ground game.[1](https://rolltide.com/sports/football/roster/roydell-williams/8850) • [5](https://olemisssports.com/documents/download/2023/9/18/9.23_Ole_Miss.pdf) He made his first career start in the [SEC Championship Game](https://www.edgepedia.org/sec-championship-game) against Georgia, leading the Tide backfield with 16 carries for 61 yards and a score, and started again against Michigan.[1](https://rolltide.com/sports/football/roster/roydell-williams/8850) The Alabama coaching staff named him an offensive player of the week for his play at USF and at Auburn, where he converted a fourth-and-short on the Tide's final drive.[1](https://rolltide.com/sports/football/roster/roydell-williams/8850)
**Transfer to Florida State, 2024–2025.** Williams transferred to Florida State for his final two seasons. In 2024 he appeared in 4 games with 26 carries for 53 yards and 2 touchdowns plus 5 receptions for 46 yards; in 2025 he played 7 games with 15 carries for 46 yards and 2 catches for 19 yards.[4](https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/roydell-williams-2.html) A CBS Sports account of his 2026 signing describes the 2025 season as five games with the same 15 carries for 46 yards.[2](https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/lions-roydell-williams-signs-with-detroit/)
## Professional career
Williams went undrafted in 2026 and signed with the [Indianapolis Colts](https://www.edgepedia.org/indianapolis-colts) in July 2026. The Colts waived him on August 19, 2026, to make room for [Keenan Allen](https://www.edgepedia.org/keenan-allen) as the team finalized its roster.[2](https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/lions-roydell-williams-signs-with-detroit/) On August 24, 2026, the [Detroit Lions](https://www.edgepedia.org/detroit-lions) signed him.[2](https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/lions-roydell-williams-signs-with-detroit/)
## Scouting profile
Draft evaluations describe Williams as a downhill runner best suited to inside zone and power run concepts, where his ability to read blocks is maximized, while athletic limitations restrict his scheme versatility.[6](https://nfldraftbuzz.com/player/Roydell-Williams-RB-Alabama) His college record fits that description: his best Alabama seasons came at 5.0 yards per carry behind Alabama's offensive lines, and his receiving production was modest, 28 catches for 217 yards across six seasons.[4](https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/roydell-williams-2.html)
## References
1. [Roydell Williams, Football Roster Bio, Alabama Athletics](https://rolltide.com/sports/football/roster/roydell-williams/8850)
2. [Lions' Roydell Williams: Signs with Detroit, CBS Sports / RotoWire](https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/lions-roydell-williams-signs-with-detroit/)
3. [Roydell Williams (WR, Tulane), Pro-Football-Reference](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WillRo05.htm)
4. [Roydell Williams College Stats, Sports-Reference](https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/roydell-williams-2.html)
5. [Alabama vs. Ole Miss Football Statistics (September 23, 2023)](https://olemisssports.com/documents/download/2023/9/18/9.23_Ole_Miss.pdf)
6. [Roydell Williams NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report, NFL Draft Buzz](https://nfldraftbuzz.com/player/Roydell-Williams-RB-Alabama)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Other team and ball sports › Rugby and other football codes › American football players, coaches, and executives › Running backs › Active NFL running backs*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 11, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license