Freshman running back impressing Kansas football coaches

Kansas football fans are counting down the days to the season opener. A freshman running back is getting the attention of head coach David Beaty.

Kansas football fans can’t wait to see Doug Meacham’s Air Raid offense. We know the up-tempo attack should be fun to watch. Late last week, Kansas football ran their biggest scrimmage of camp. I watched head coach David Beaty’s post scrimmage media briefing online immediately following the practice. He thanked a few people, briefly discussed the team’s hard work and then mentioned a few players.

Coach Beaty didn’t mention a quarterback or the Jayhawk’s Big 12 preseason defensive player of the year. The first name out of his mouth was that of a freshman running back. As a matter of fact, there are well over 100 players on the current Kansas football roster. That includes at least nine running backs. Beaty could have talked about anyone. He enthusiastically mentioned the play of Dom Williams.

"Unless he gets hurt there is no way he is not going to play for us. He is a very talented guy. That guy is mature beyond his years."

I’m not sure what Williams is doing but the 4-star recruit and 17^th ranked running back in the country, according to Rivals, is getting noticed by the head coach. That’s a good thing, especially when you are a freshman and fighting for playing time with a number of other running backs.

Freshman usually don’t get the opportunity behind upperclassmen. The excuse is that they can’t hold on to the football or haven’t “earned it,” as Beaty might say. A freshman running back Kahlil Herbert did big things for the Jayhawks last season. Surely you remember his late one-yard touchdown run in the win over Texas. Junior Taylor Martin is also talented running and catching the football. All three will have a big impact on the Kansas football season.

Home/Kansas Jayhawks Football