'24 MO RB Aneyas Williams (Notre Dame Signee)

[IAIrish]

I think we’re viewing all of this through the lens of the modern landscape of CFB and not through the lens of the culture and atmosphere that MFMF has built at Notre Dame. We just don’t lose impact players to the portal. Anyone we want to keep—we keep.

If he leaves, we'll know this will be the narrative the talking heads parrot. I'll just hope he doesn't go to a team on the schedule or a cfp contender. There's no other backs out there I'd automatically take over him, especially thinking about wear & tear.

I want no part of an Aneyas revenge game.

 

[GoIrish41]

He’d be foolish to transfer. Why is this even being discussed? Just wild speculation?

 

[IAIrish]

The plot thickens....


Notre Dame appears to be the place Williams wants to be through conversations with folks around him.

“I had that discussion and this is where I want to be,” said Williams. “I’m in a great position. I get to see my guys ball, that’s been a big thing. Being able to see their success is an eye-opener. Success is right there in front of me.

“I just have to be patient. I have a long career ahead and there’s no rush. Being okay with where my feet are. That’s that.”

RB Aneyas Williams Staying Patient at Notre Dame

Despite limited carries this season, Aneyas Williams explains how mindset shifts, team culture and steady development are keeping him locked in at Notre Dame.

irishsportsdaily.com

 

[NDFAN2008]

I'm telling you it wouldn't surprise me if he puts up crazy numbers next year, bigger question is who is RB2? Wouldn't surprise me if Osborne gets some carries.

 

[Wild Bill]

He’d be foolish to transfer. Why is this even being discussed? Just wild speculation?

He's probably pissed that he went from being a significant contributor to absolutely zero playing time outside of blowouts. I'd be pissed too.

 

[Old Man Mike]

How anyone could watch him last season and not realize that he's a starter on basically every team in the country but ours, boggles my mind. So, what happened this year? My opinion: Aneyas played so much last season because Price was not an intelligent blocker. Aneyas was brilliant at reading the pass-blocking needs. Superman (Love) wasn't perfect either, so obvious pass downs were Williams'. Superman learned how to really pick up rushers; Price pretty much did (though still can improve.) So, the staff decided to feed the Beast and stick with two All-Americans, and Aneyas had to sit. ... an All conference quality player having to sit and wait -- What a luxury of abundance! I feel for Aneyas, and probably would have let him run a little more, but ....

 

[Dale]

“Do you plan on being here next year?

Absolutely.”



Odd both ISD and 247 have chosen to omit that from their articles.

 

[Fbolt]

Thought that was one of the "ballsiest" Qs a reporter asked this year. Typically, they never ask the hard Qs.

 

[IA4irish]

I think it’s borderline coaching malpractice not to find more of a role for him this year. He was huge for us last year including in pass protection. I know he was hurt to start the year. With our short yardage/goal to go struggles, how do you not give him a shot?

 

[Dale]

I think it’s borderline coaching malpractice not to find more of a role for him this year. He was huge for us last year including in pass protection. I know he was hurt to start the year. With our short yardage/goal to go struggles, how do you not give him a shot?

Jeremiyah Love might win the Heisman Trophy.

 

[Bane]

I think it’s borderline coaching malpractice not to find more of a role for him this year. He was huge for us last year including in pass protection. I know he was hurt to start the year. With our short yardage/goal to go struggles, how do you not give him a shot?

But would he have really done anything better than Love or Price? Maybe he's better at pass pro than Price, but Price is super dynamic and would start at RB for every program in the nation minus ours and that could be about it.

I don't understand why Williams would look at ND's history with the RB position over the last 10 years or so, realize he was sitting behind 2 AA type RBs who will be gone next year, and not want to stick around. Where would he go that could offer him more? We're about to put two more tailbacks in the League and if Williams does well next year he could be playing on Sundays in 2 years.

 

[SighWillingham]

“Do you plan on being here next year?

Absolutely.”



Odd both ISD and 247 have chosen to omit that from their articles.

I know we say it all the time, that “ND is just different, and these guys are different,” but watching three players get up there back to back at a presser like that just nails that home.

Three great dudes, all of whom speak more eloquently as both great humans and football students than most NFL coaches. Just awesome. You also get why NFL gm’s and coaches love drafting ND guys.

Aneyas is going to be a stud and become a star next year, and can’t wait for that for him.

 

[Padomer9]

There’s been times where the camera cuts to CJ after a drive and he’s sitting on the bench with the iPad and Williams is sitting next to him. Williams looks engaged, is smiling and looks happy. If he was thinking about transferring its actions would probably look a little different. Just my opinion, I think he’s back next year.

 

[NorthDakota]

There’s been times where the camera cuts to CJ after a drive and he’s sitting on the bench with the iPad and Williams is sitting next to him. Williams looks engaged, is smiling and looks happy. If he was thinking about transferring its actions would probably look a little different. Just my opinion, I think he’s back next year.

Not sure why he would leave. He's going to get a lot more PT next year

 

[Te'o4Heisman]

I think it’s borderline coaching malpractice not to find more of a role for him this year. He was huge for us last year including in pass protection. I know he was hurt to start the year. With our short yardage/goal to go struggles, how do you not give him a shot?

RB usage has been just fine. Playcalling and scheme has been the short yardage issue, not RB personnel, and both price and Love have been fine in pass pro. This is a non-issue imo. Theyve kept the best backs on the field. Williams’ time will come.

 

[AlaskanIrish]

Whatever the case, this sets up nicely for Aneyas to become an absolute ND legend at some point on this playoff run. I think we’d be crazy not to use him at the right moment.

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

Absolutely should be the short yardage back.

 

[DCK_1981]

All these posts about how Williams should’ve played more this year but who should have played less to allow that to happen? You have a possible Heisman winner and another guy who’s easily a top 10 if not 5 RB in college. I feel for him but there just wasn’t the carries to go around for him to get anything but mop up duty. Next year now he can start to ball out and show us what he can do.

 

[Old Man Mike]

I get the dilemma. It has actually gotten worse here near the end. Since Love is getting true Heisman consideration, it is obvious to me that Freeman and Denbrock have planned to give him the best shot at getting it -- consequently reducing even Price's carries.

 

[KMac151993]

I don't know how he could be upset...he was an important cog on a national runner up team last year and is playing behind two of the Top 10 RB's in the whole country this year.

 

[BeatSC]

I would say neither back is stellar in the short yardage situations so Williams or Payne could not have done much worse. Love runs more straight up. Williams and Payne are not looking to make a move just full speed ahead. Both are low to the ground. Payne was used in short yardage situations two years ago. Actually I was hoping Kedron Young at 240 was going to be our short yardage specialist.

 

[jprue24]

"Are you coming back next year?"

"Absolutely"

He's drinking the kool-aid. He's not leaving

 

[NDMD]

"Are you coming back next year?"

"Absolutely"

He's drinking the kool-aid. He's not leaving

Even if he's not, what better situation exists for him? There will be 300+ carries and 2300+ leaving, and he's in line to be RB1

He would be foolish to leave. He shows out and he'll be on track to graduate and get drafted.

 

[irish4ever]

Even if he's not, what better situation exists for him? There will be 300+ carries and 2300+ leaving, and he's in line to be RB1

He would be foolish to leave. He shows out and he'll be on track to graduate and get drafted.

Agreed. IF things don't go as planned, he'd still have the opportunity to transfer for his 4th year elsewhere for '27 season (and probably have a ND degree in hand).

 

[RudyVerse]

I don't think he's a #1 back on a playoff team, I think he's a really, really good #2. Now watch him go on to have a Kyren career which also wouldn't shock me, but I think we're a little high on him as the guy.

 

[IAIrish]

I don't think he's a #1 back on a playoff team, I think he's a really, really good #2. Now watch him go on to have a Kyren career which also wouldn't shock me, but I think we're a little high on him as the guy.

Disagree.
He's easily a cfp back. I'd go so far to guess he'll be 1,400 all purpose and average 7.5 ypc. He won't hit nearly the same number of homeruns that Love did, but he also won't have nearly as many stuffs running behind a Joe Moore contending oline.

 

[ab2cmiller]

Disagree.
He's easily a cfp back. I'd go so far to guess he'll be 1,400 all purpose and average 7.5 ypc. He won't hit nearly the same number of homeruns that Love did, but he also won't have nearly as many stuffs running behind a Joe Moore contending oline.

So he's going to have a higher ypc than Love?

 

[allenm5333]

Disagree.
He's easily a cfp back. I'd go so far to guess he'll be 1,400 all purpose and average 7.5 ypc. He won't hit nearly the same number of homeruns that Love did, but he also won't have nearly as many stuffs running behind a Joe Moore contending oline.

I think he can be a number 1 back if he has the right surroundings. Good ol and pass game to keep 8 out of the box? Yup. Drew P and Hartman weapons outside? No

 

[IAIrish]

So he's going to have a higher ypc than Love?

That's my bet behind a line of Knapp, Schrauth, Otting, Jagusah and Lambert. Combine that with the law firm of Flanagan and Flanigan, and a 1st round pick who specializes in Carr bombs to keep the safeties back.

As long as they get a Fields equivalent in the portal, I like the odds.

 

[NDBoiler]

That's my bet behind a line of Knapp, Schrauth, Otting, Jagusah and Lambert. Combine that with the law firm of Flanagan and Flanigan, and a 1st round pick who specializes in Carr bombs to keep the safeties back.

As long as they get a Fields equivalent in the portal, I like the odds.

Craig is supposedly coming back next year, so it will likely be him instead of Otting.