The Cardinal Countdown: 25 Days Until Kickoff

#25 Dae Williams

Class: RS Sophomore

Ht/Wt: 6-2/228

Position: Running back

Hometown: Sapulpa, OK

Twitter: @AllDae_

Thoughts: All summer long I’ve been choo-chooing the whistle on the Dae Williams hype train. I thought that heading into last year, even with the presence of Reggie, Malik, and Jeremy Smith, Dae would finish the season as the top rusher, he was that good. As we all remember a sping ACL injury derailed Dae’s entire 2017 season and we never saw him play a snap. As we all remember, a spring ACL injury, that should easily be 7-8 months of recovery time somehow became just a bump in the road for Dae. Working his tail off during the summer and into the early fall months Williams found his way back into the lineup right before the Cards were headed to a big game at Florida State, just like I predicted last year…right?

Dae had a successful surgery back in April and is showing off some mobility already per social media. Even with a fairly aggressive timetable I doubt we’ll see Dae in uniform anytime before late October or early November. In my opinion you’re not throwing him into the fire in his first game back at Doak Campbell on October 21^st, and if he’s not 100% why risk it on October 28^th at Wake, in a game in which you should win walking away, either? The bad news is that November 4^th is a bye week and suddenly you now only have three games left in the season. I have no clue what Williams goal is but I would guess a medical redshirt may not be out of the question down the road depending upon his progress.

As Mr. Rutherford would say…”you could not be more wrong”.

The Cards let Williams, who I would assume was still not at full speed, get five carries against FSU and he responded with 41 yards and touchdown in the win over the Seminoles. In the next five games Dae got 33 more touches for 194 yards and added a couple more touchdowns. In the last six games Dae was getting the reps I anticipated he would at the start of the year before slowing ramping up his touches as the season progressed. I like Trey Smith, and Colin Wilson will be a strong part of the group, but Dae is the one this year who will take that “committee” to the next level. He has the size, he has the speed, and he has some dang good vision…

For all that I got wrong last year one thing was correct. Williams in 2018, will return as the Cards leading rusher. No Lamar, no Malik, and no Reggie means Dae will be #1 on the list of attempts, yards, and touchdowns from 2017. The offense this year is still in a developmental stage but “All” Dae is going to be a vital piece of the running game. I know Trey has been getting the recent pub but If I’m a betting man I think 2018 finishes with Williams once again leading the pack in attempts, yardage and touchdowns, and if injuries are avoided I think Williams becomes only the second back in the last 5 years to crack the 800 yard mark....aaaand while we’re here, let me double down and say Williams finishes with more TDs than any running back since Radcliff dropped 12 back in 2014. By the time conference play starts Dae Williams will be a household name**.

(**All statements are contingent upon evidence that the removal of Dae’s dreadlocks do not impact his overall performace)

Sweet Tweet:

(Unleashes ‘Louisville Water is the best’ mob)