Kansas football: 2020 season could be last for Pooka Williams

There’s a realistic chance that Kansas football star Pooka Williams could forgo his senior year and head for the 2021 NFL Draft.

Pooka Williams is one of the best running backs Kansas football has ever seen, and that’s saying something considering both Gale Sayers and John Riggins were Jayhawks. Williams has over 2,100 career rushing yards at Kansas, and another 1,000-yard season would move him into the top five in all-time rushing yards at Kansas.

While some backs are only used in one way though, Williams is extremely versatile. He has over 500 receiving yards as well as four receiving touchdowns. Williams has even thrown a touchdown pass at Kansas.

Williams is patient, elusive, and explosive with the ball in his hands, and he’s been recognized as one of the best running backs in the Big 12 for the past two seasons. There’s no reason to think that he won’t continue to dominate in 2020. The only problem for Kansas football fans is that Williams is so good that he’s beginning to appear in chatter for the 2021 NFL Draft.

He was listed as the No. 87 overall prospect in CBS’s 2021 NFL Draft Big Board, and he was the No. 9 overall running back. There’s no doubt that Williams is making a name for himself on the national stage, and NFL scouts and GMs are likely taking notice.

Chirs Spooner of Pro Football Network called Williams a “sleeper,” and had this to say about his value:

"“With his speed, explosiveness, and agility, Williams is the kind of player you need to get out in space. The Kansas offense did this in many ways last season, and it leads us to our last point: Williams’ versatility. In today’s NFL, coaches are always looking for those players who cause match-up nightmares for their opponents”"

Williams has also received a lot of praise from our colleagues at With the First Pick, who rated Williams with a 7.75 and cite his acceleration, elusiveness, and motor as major strengths. They predict him to be a mid-second round selection at this point, which seems about right.

As a Kansas football fan, I hope Pooka Williams decides to stay with the Jayhawks through his senior year. He could become arguably the greatest running back and player in KU football history if he does.

At the same time, Williams needs to do what’s best for him, and that may be declaring for the 2021 Draft. There will definitely be a team willing to pick him up should he go that route, and hopefully, he’ll have a long and prosperous pro career either way.