Notre Dame Football: Examining the running back position for the Irish

Kyren Williams

Kyren Williams is another talented option out of the backfield for the Notre Dame football team. The former 4-star recruit out of Saint Louis, Missouri was used sparingly as a freshman, recording only four carries for 26 yards in four games for the Irish.

The 5’9″ and 205-pound Williams is a bit shorter than the prototypical running back but plays bigger than his size would suggest due to his excellent athleticism. He is solid in all facets of the running game, projecting as a great blocker, and exceptional receiver, who can gash defenses up the gut or to the outside.

Another area where Williams is seen as a potential asset is in special teams as a kick returner. He had two kickoff returns for 35 yards last season. Due to his excellent field vision, which allows him to easily identify holes in the defense and open running lanes, Williams may see an increased role as a return man as he enters his sophomore season.

With the senior Armstrong and juniors Flemister and Smith ahead of him on the depth chart and the 5-star true freshman Tyree joining the team, Williams faces a bit of an uphill battle for playing time this season. However, if an injury should occur, Williams certainly has the skill set to step into a bigger role and shine.

The most likely scenario is that Williams is used on special teams, receives a slight increase in the number of rushing attempts from last season, and is used as a receiving threat out of the backfield for the Irish.