SOUTH BEND — Aneyas Williams, do-it-all running back for Notre Dame football, doesn’t have to worry this spring about impressing his new position coach.
Ja’Juan Seider got an up-close look at the rising sophomore’s talents when the Irish ended Penn State’s season in the Orange Bowl back on Jan. 9.
“Aneyas, for a young kid, is just solid,” Seider said ahead of spring practice. “You really watch him playing the game and the way he attacks blocking. He’s got elite ball skills. Ton of respect for him.”
In a span of two series against Seider’s former team, Williams had six touches for 81 yards, with all but one of those coming through the air. After making four grabs on a 13-play march to Notre Dame’s first points of the night, Williams returned after halftime to key the game-tying touchdown drive.
His 36-yard catch on a wheel route, an over-the-shoulder circus job, still pains Seider to discuss.
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“We were in man defense, and I saw a middle linebacker run out with him, and he caught a (nearly) 40-yard pass,” Seider said. “That was a big part of the game.”
On the next snap, Williams barreled up the middle for 15 yards to the Penn State 4-yard-line.
“The run was just nice,” Williams said recently. “Just to finally get behind my pads and run the ball a little bit, just kind of get a little flow going. Being able to do that and see the team energy pick up, that was a big thing for me.”
And the catch on a perfectly thrown ball from Riley Leonard? That was supposed to be dialed up for Jeremiyah Love, but the star runner was getting a breather as he played through an MCL sprain in his right knee.
“The opportunity finally presented itself with J-Love being a little banged up,” Williams said. “I actually got one (practice) rep of that play throughout the week — just one — so I knew it was in there. I knew there was a chance. If my number was called, I was going to make the most of it.”
Williams finished his freshman season with 219 rushing yards and a 6.4-yard average that was boosted by a 58-yard touchdown run against Army. As a receiver, the Hannibal, Mo., product added 18 catches for 172 yards.
Having switched his jersey number from 20 to 22, Williams hopes to emulate the leadership qualities of former Penn State transfer Devyn Ford. That was Ford’s number the past two years with the Irish.
“Devyn Ford was a big vocal leader in our group, and I’m trying to take that step,” Williams said. “We have a bunch of talented guys, (but) a little quieter group, a lot of guys who just want to put their head down and work. I’m looking to … be a leader within the room and keep the standard as it was.”
Mike Berardino covers Notre Dame football for the South Bend Tribune and NDInsider.com. Follow him on social media @MikeBerardino.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Notre Dame RB Aneyas Williams impressed new position coach in Orange Bowl
