From what I’ve seen so far, he has a chance to be a really good player. He's fast and very physical.’ – Utah running backs coach Dennis Erickson
SALT LAKE CITY — Joe Williams may be one of the least-known players on the Utah football team and may hardly get to play this year. On the other hand, he could end up being one of the most important players on the team if the unthinkable happens this year.
Williams is the backup to Utah’s All-American running back candidate Devonte Booker, who is expected to carry the ball for the Utes some 25 to 30 times a game this year and surpass his 1,512-yard total of last year. Because the Utes mostly play a one-back set, Williams’ playing time may be limited as long as Booker stays healthy.
But like Ute running backs coach Dennis Erickson said, “A lot of things can happen,’’ not wishing to mention the possibility of his top back going down.
Erickson is the coach who recruited Williams to Utah from New York, of all places, after hearing about him from a friend. In the handful of workouts the Utes have had so far, the longtime coach has been impressed.
“From what I’ve seen so far, he has a chance to be a really good player,’’ said Erickson. “He's fast and very physical.’’
Indeed, Williams clocked a 4.38 40-yard time, which is second best on the Ute team. Last year, he ran track in junior college and ran a 10.47 100-meter time.
“I’m a pretty fast guy, I have good hands and I run with power,’’ said Williams when asked to describe his best attributes.
Williams grew up in the Bronx before moving to Pennsylvania, where he attended high school. He was recruited to play for UConn and after playing sparingly his freshman year, was set to get more time as a sophomore. However, that summer he was dismissed from the team for an incident involving the improper use of a credit card.
“That’s all behind me now,’’ said Williams, who says he’s learned from his mistake.
The 5-foot-11, 200-pounder enrolled at ASA College in New York, where he rushed for 1,093 yards on 163 carries (7.8 yards per carry average) in just seven games. But he played under the radar — far under the radar — and no one was recruiting him until Utah showed up.
“Finding a guy like that . . . if he was in California or Mississippi, probably everybody in the country would know about him,’’ said Erickson.
Actually, Oklahoma State and Miami started to recruit Williams after Utah got in, but they were too late to change Williams’ mind.
Williams had never been to Utah before he made his visit last winter and the first thing he noticed were the snow-capped mountains. The only thing he knew about the state was that the Olympics were held here back in 2002.
Now that he’s here, Williams says after a little transition, he’s “fitting right in.’’ The biggest difference he’s noticed is how “quiet” it is compared to New York. “I’m from the city that never sleeps,’’ he says.
The Utes had planned on sophomore Troy McCormick, who played very well in last year’s bowl win over Colorado State (86 yards on five carries), being the primary backup to Booker this year. However, McCormick suffered a severe knee injury early in spring practice and will be out until next spring. That opened the door for Williams, who has moved up to No. 2 despite not arriving in Utah until May.
Others in the mix behind Williams are sophomores Dre’Vian Young and Monte Seabrook and freshmen Marcel Brooks-Brown.
Williams says it’s been a bit of a change getting used to major college football, but he feels confident he’ll be ready by the time September comes along.
“We’re pretty fast tempo on offense,’’ he said. “It wasn’t really like that at UConn or in junior college, it was, huddle up and call the play. I’m getting used to the signals and formations, so I’ll definitely get it by the time the season rolls around.’’