Quick Take: The Jayhawks have landed the running back they wanted from the start.
Iowa’s Leshon Williams has flipped his commitment from Memphis to Kansas. Williams took an official visit to KU the week they played Colorado and followed that with an official to Memphis.
Williams has kept his recruiting quiet, but I know Jonathan Wallace and Rob Ianello played a big part.
In 2023 Williams led Iowa in rushing and was an honorable mention All-Big 10 selection. He avg 4.8 yards per carry and 821 yards on the season. He started eight games.
This year got off to a slow start and part was due to an injury.
“In what was a historically bad offensive year for the Hawkeyes in 2023, Williams was more or less the only consistently productive player,” said Eliot Clough who covers the Iowa program. “At what was the start of a very unproductive year for him, he stuck it out, and ultimately became Iowa’s bell-cow running back. Between injuries to Kaleb Johnson and Jaziun Patterson, Williams carried the load and carried it well for the Hawkeyes last season.
“Unfortunately, due to injury, he wasn’t able to break through and contribute for Iowa in 2024. Between the emergence of Johnson and a nagging ankle injury, it wasn’t in the cards for the Chicago native to contribute.”
Breakdown: Williams played in the Iowa power running game and uses a good blend of straight-ahead running with some ability to cut and make people miss. At 215 pounds he has the strength and fall forward. I would call him quick, but not breakaway speed. He is fast enough to get to the second level.
Clough said he can catch the ball out of the backfield and should be a good for Leipold’s culture.
“At a place like Kansas, Williams has the potential to be an every down back if need be, but can also compliment and serve as a pass-catcher on third down out of the backfield,” he said. “He’s a culture guy that teammates will love, and he’ll bring uber-valuable experience and a veteran presence to the Jayhawks’ roster.”
What this means: I don’t know if this is the only back KU will take since there is talk Daniel Hishaw could enter the portal. But this is a back who is proven at the Big 10 level and was the top RB on the board for the staff.
Iowa’s Leshon Williams has flipped his commitment from Memphis to Kansas. Williams took an official visit to KU the week they played Colorado and followed that with an official to Memphis.
Williams has kept his recruiting quiet, but I know Jonathan Wallace and Rob Ianello played a big part.
In 2023 Williams led Iowa in rushing and was an honorable mention All-Big 10 selection. He avg 4.8 yards per carry and 821 yards on the season. He started eight games.
This year got off to a slow start and part was due to an injury.
“In what was a historically bad offensive year for the Hawkeyes in 2023, Williams was more or less the only consistently productive player,” said Eliot Clough who covers the Iowa program. “At what was the start of a very unproductive year for him, he stuck it out, and ultimately became Iowa’s bell-cow running back. Between injuries to Kaleb Johnson and Jaziun Patterson, Williams carried the load and carried it well for the Hawkeyes last season.
“Unfortunately, due to injury, he wasn’t able to break through and contribute for Iowa in 2024. Between the emergence of Johnson and a nagging ankle injury, it wasn’t in the cards for the Chicago native to contribute.”
Breakdown: Williams played in the Iowa power running game and uses a good blend of straight-ahead running with some ability to cut and make people miss. At 215 pounds he has the strength and fall forward. I would call him quick, but not breakaway speed. He is fast enough to get to the second level.
Clough said he can catch the ball out of the backfield and should be a good for Leipold’s culture.
“At a place like Kansas, Williams has the potential to be an every down back if need be, but can also compliment and serve as a pass-catcher on third down out of the backfield,” he said. “He’s a culture guy that teammates will love, and he’ll bring uber-valuable experience and a veteran presence to the Jayhawks’ roster.”
What this means: I don’t know if this is the only back KU will take since there is talk Daniel Hishaw could enter the portal. But this is a back who is proven at the Big 10 level and was the top RB on the board for the staff.
