Alabama Uses Virtual Reality to Help Coleman Williams Fix Drops

A breakthrough in vision assessment has helped Alabama wide receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams address persistent catching problems ahead of the Crimson Tide's October 10, 2026, showdown with Georgia in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. According to ESPN, offseason testing with virtual reality technology identified a coordination issue affecting how his eyes tracked incoming passes, and he has since gone four consecutive games without a drop.

Coleman-Williams struggled with dropped passes during the 2025 season, recording 13 according to Saturday Down South. He also dropped two passes during Alabama's season-opening victory over East Carolina in 2026, raising concerns that the problem would continue.

The receiver's recent improvement extends beyond ball security. Bleacher Report reported that he has matched his 2025 touchdown total and is averaging a career-high 18.8 yards per reception. ESPN also reported that he has caught at least one touchdown in three consecutive games.

Coleman-Williams initially believed the recurring mistakes were psychological rather than physical. Reviewing a missed opportunity against Georgia in the previous season's SEC Championship Game prompted him to seek help from Alabama head athletic trainer Jeff Allen.

"I sat down with Jeff and watched the Georgia game," Coleman-Williams told ESPN. "I was going over a go-ball and I just completely missed it."

The receiver said the problem occurred despite his ability to get open and his normal visual acuity. Standard eye examinations showed 20/20 vision, but they did not explain why he struggled to track the football at the moment of a catch.

Allen's investigation focused on binocular motor control, the ability of both eyes to coordinate while following an approaching object. ESPN reported that virtual reality technology helped the medical staff identify a problem involving convergence and depth perception.

"You just sit there and say, 'Well, yeah, that guy he's dropping the ball,'" Allen explained. "And it starts to turn into almost like a mental thing and people think, 'Well, it's a mental issue.' It's not a mental issue. This is a physiological, physical issue that we feel like we might be able to correct."

The assessment revealed that Coleman-Williams' eyes were not consistently working together to follow the ball. Saturday Down South reported that Alabama subsequently used a Brock String exercise to help address the coordination problem, while virtual reality exercises provided repeated visual-tracking practice.

The approach was adapted from technology initially developed to help older patients recovering from traumatic brain injuries improve reaction time and coordinated movement. Allen had explored its potential for athletes before learning that the system could also assess visual performance.

Coleman-Williams described the difference after undergoing the training in an interview with ESPN.

"Now, when it comes to the ball, I'm literally like Spider-Man. It's a lot easier. It's night and day."

The improvement became particularly relevant against Georgia, whose defense faced Alabama's passing attack during the October 10 matchup. The Crimson Tide entered the game with an undefeated record, while Coleman-Williams' recent production offered evidence that the team's offseason intervention had coincided with a sustained reduction in drops.

Quarterback Keelon Russell also entered the contest after a productive performance against Mississippi State. According to Sports Yahoo, Russell completed 16 of 22 passes for 285 yards and three touchdowns while adding a 17-yard rushing score in Alabama's 56-23 victory.

Former Alabama quarterback Bryce Young backed Russell during ESPN's College GameDay broadcast, highlighting his potential ahead of the Georgia matchup.

"I'm a huge fan. I think he's super special," Young said.

Russell faced Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton, who completed 25 of 32 passes for 295 yards and three touchdowns in the Bulldogs' 38-14 victory over Vanderbilt. Sports Yahoo reported that Stockton ranked third nationally in passing efficiency at 201.98, ahead of Russell's 185.66.

ESPN College GameDay host Rece Davis also assessed the challenge awaiting Russell against Georgia's defense.

"You've got a quarterback that is supremely talented, but hasn't played a lot yet," Davis said. "I think it is possible, maybe even likely, that Georgia's defense will make him look young at times tomorrow night. But maybe by the end of the season, I'm equally confident in saying that he might be the best quarterback in the country."

Georgia entered the matchup after defeating Vanderbilt, while Alabama arrived following its victory over Mississippi State. The meeting at Bryant-Denny Stadium offered both undefeated SEC contenders an opportunity to strengthen their position in the conference race.