SOUTH BEND — Aneyas Williams, junior running back for Notre Dame football, did his first round of interviews for 2026 without a protective sleeve on his surgical right elbow.
Despite wearing a red jersey in spring practice sessions, Williams was upbeat Friday morning, March 27, about his progress, saying he was “right where I want to be” in his return to full health.
“Just being smart, getting everything I want out of recovery and treatment,” he said. “Way ahead of my timeline.”
That includes near-full participation in spring drills, most of which take place beyond the prying eyes of the media.
“I’ve been doing everything, to be honest with you,” he said. “I know y’all leave early, but there hasn’t been much restriction. Really the red jersey is so guys take it a little bit easier, but I’m still in there getting all the team reps, everything.”
On a per-carry basis, Williams has been remarkably productive through his first two college seasons. He has averaged 8.4 yards on his 78 scrimmage touches, rushing and receiving, with seven of those plays resulting in touchdowns.
With Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price headed to the NFL, Williams is the nominal leader in the succession race that includes redshirt freshman Nolan James Jr., short-yardage banger Kedren Young and midyear enrollees Jonaz Walton and Javian Osborne.
Williams said his spring mindset is one of “understanding the opportunity at hand and taking full advantage of it.”
Hence, his insistence at doing as much as he’s allowed to do this spring.
“With JD and J-Love gone, obviously the opportunity is there,” said the young man from Hannibal, Mo. “We’re looking to replace these guys. We’re not looking to take any steps back at all in the running back room. I trust these guys, all of us, to go out there and do that.”
Trust also played an outsized role in Williams’ decision to forego the transfer portal after an admittedly trying sophomore year. He decided to put his faith in Irish coach Marcus Freeman and position coach Ja’Juan Seider, who arrived from Penn State last offseason.
“I like to think before I react,” Williams said. “It’s just the way to live life.”
Why transfer option ‘didn’t feel right’ to Aneyas Williams
Despite a gameday workload that was precisely half of what it had been in his freshman year, thanks in large part to Notre Dame’s season ending prematurely, Williams decided to stick around for Chapter 3.
“I knew this was kind of going to be the way things would unfold with this opportunity this year,” he said. “Being able to keep a level head last year throughout that and understanding what’s at hand for me in the bigger picture, that was the biggest thing.”
Perspective, some call it.
“It’s Year 3,” Williams said. “I’m in the perfect position to get everything I want. I understood that. I trusted Coach Seider. I really trust this team.”
And the collaborative culture that goes with it.
“There’s always (outside) interest,” he said. “With a great freshman year and the way the portal works, anybody can get anybody. That was exciting times, but it didn’t feel right. I came here for a reason. This degree means something to me, but also these people mean something more to me.
“I’d say that’s the biggest takeaway that I can fully speak on. Getting these relationships with these transfers, the first thing they speak on … I remember a conversation with Francis (Brewu). He was like, ‘Why are you guys hanging out here? Why are you guys always together?’ “
Williams realized then the rarity of the environment at the Irish football facilities, where late-night hangs are the norm.
“It just really embodies Notre Dame and who we are and the team culture,” he said. “That was my biggest fear when I did think about entering (the portal): What’s it going to be like team-wise? I couldn’t give this up.”
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: Why running back Aneyas Williams ran it back for Notre Dame football
Reporting by Mike Berardino, South Bend Tribune / South Bend Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
