TALLAHASSEE — Today marked another addition to Florida State’s 2024 transfer portal class, as former Alabama running back Roydell Williams committed to the Seminoles after his two-day official visit concluded in Tallahassee.
Originally from Hueytown (Ala.), Williams accumulated 234 rushing attempts for 1,165 rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns across four seasons of football in Tuscaloosa. In 2023 alone, he had 111 rushes for 560 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns. Williams is expected to have one year of eligibility remaining.
247Sports.com ranks him as the No. 76 overall transfer in the nation and No. 7 running back.
Q: WHEN YOU ENTERED THE PORTAL, HOW QUICKLY WAS FSU IN CONTACT WITH YOU AND WHEN DID YOU KNOW THIS WAS A PLACE YOU WANTED TO COME SEE?
A: “Immediately. It felt like home once my name hit the portal, and I communicated with all the coaches, and we built a relationship throughout this time, and I felt like it was the right decision.”
Q: DID YOU KNOW THEM IN YOUR HIGH SCHOOL RECRUITMENT?
A: “I didn’t. It was kind of new to me, with it being four years later and being back in this process again, I’m just trying to take it all in right now.”
Q: WHAT’S YOUR RELATIONSHIP LIKE WITH COACH YAC (RUNNING BACK COACH DAVID JOHNSON)?
A: “When I first talked on the phone with him, it felt like I knew him already. Just how he was, his personality. It clicked.”
Q: DID YOU COMMIT TO FSU ON THE VISIT?
A: “I did commit,” he said with a laugh. “There we go. That’s what y’all wanted to know, I did commit.”
Q: IS IT SOMETHING ABOUT THEIR HISTORY WITH RUNNING BACKS THAT STOOD OUT TO YOU OR IS IT THEIR USAGE OF RUNNING BACKS THAT STOOD OUT TO YOU?
A: “It’s a little bit of everything. Most importantly, the personality and character that (Norvell) came in with. His energy, everything about coach Norvell is just like… he’s just that guy. And the relationship that me and him built throughout this time, it made me like I was just at home, and it’s where I need to be.”
Q: DID YOU GET A CHANCE TO MEET OR SPEND TIME WITH MANY OF THE RUNNING BACKS?
A: “A couple of them. We talked, and I got the feeling of Coach YAC and everything with the team, but I really didn’t get to meet all the players that I really wanted to meet, but I’ll be back here soon, and I’ll get to meet them.”
Q: HOW DO THEY PLAN TO USE YOU IN THE OFFENSE?
A: “Just creating the opportunity and exploring what I have, putting it on display. Out of the backfield, running outside the tackles, inside the tackles. Just putting it all out there to be displayed.”
Q: ARE YOU GOING HOME TO HUEYTOWN (ALA.) OR TUSCALOOSA AND IMMEDIATELY COMING BACK?
A: “A little bit of both. I’ve got to pack some stuff up, man, I’m coming to Tallahassee.”
