Hueytown running back and Alabama commit Roydell Williams has already heard the comparison to Alabama’s Josh Jacobs, the only running back taken in the first round of last month’s NFL draft.

At 5-foot-10 and 205 pounds, Williams looks a lot like Jacobs, and Hueytown has used him as a wildcat quarterback, receiver and kick returner -- all roles Jacobs played at Alabama.

What does Williams think about the comparison?

"It makes me want to work harder, to get to that spot in life," he said. "The NFL draft is a big thing, actually. It's one of my dream goals I want to accomplish."

Roydell Williams set a Hueytown single-season rushing record with 291 carries for 2,757 yards and 32 TDs last season, while also catching three TDs and throwing another, in leading the Golden Gophers to its best season and first playoff win since 2011.

To get ready for his senior season, Williams opted not to play basketball and instead devote all his energy to getting bigger, faster and stronger in the weight room.

"This is the first year he's been in the weight room full-time," Hueytown coach Scott Mansell said, "and I can tell a difference and the way he's developed over the last four or five months. I think you'll see a completely different back than what you saw last year. It's hard to believe that, but I still think the best is yet to come with him.

"He's going to be a guy who's tougher to bring down," Mansell said. "That ought to put a lot of fear in a lot of defenders, because it was already pretty tough."

Pleasant Grove 3-star LB holds offers from Alabama and Auburn after 30-pound weight gain https://t.co/XJLIVLnM22 pic.twitter.com/KIANXRzohU — AL.com H.S. Sports (@aldotcomPreps) May 9, 2019

Hueytown started spring practice in late April and is set to play at Pleasant Grove in a spring game on May 17.

Williams said he is “110 percent committed to Alabama,” and he’s currently the only running back among the Crimson Tide’s 16 commitments in the Class of 2020. He’s listed as a 4-star prospect, and he plans to enroll at Alabama in January.

“Just to get a head-start on everything,” he said when asked about his decision to graduate from high school early. “If any other running backs come in, get a head-start on the workouts and the practices and get the swing of the plays. It’s just to get in the swing of things.”