Gophers’ Bryce Williams was heavily counted on in his first collegiate start Saturday, and true freshman running back produced.
After senior starter Rodney Smith was lost for the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee last week, Williams stepped up with a whopping 33 carries for 141 yards in Minnesota’s 26-3 win over Miami (Ohio) at TCF Bank Stadium.
“I thought he ran hard,” Gophers coach P.J. Fleck said. “He was tough.”
Williams, of Sarasota, Fla., was counted on equally in both halves, with 15 carries for 82 yards in the first half. With Mohamed Ibrahim also out injured, Williams took all but one of the running back carries Saturday.
“It’s impressive,” center Jared Weyler said about Williams’ work load, “and he ran hard 33 times. He didn’t just run 33 times. … I look forward to seeing him continue to grow.”
Fleck pointed to Williams’ second-half fumble, which was lost to the Redhawks, as a sticking point that must improve.
After consecutive sacks in the second quarter, the Gophers ran a screen pass to Williams, who burst around the edge and down the sideline for a 35-yard gain. It was a big play to set up the U’s second touchdown of the first half.
Thrust into a bigger role last week, Williams replaced Smith and was running with his head down in the first half. He had 12 carries for 28 yards before the break in the 21-14 win over Fresno State.
“I think he was just getting carries and running,” Fleck said. “That’s OK. He’s a true freshman.”
In the second half against the Bulldogs, Williams had 13 carries for 56 yards, including four rushes for 25 yards on the winning drive.
“I thought he felt the game a lot more,” Fleck said. “You know, he got into a rhythm and I thought that his emotions and the style of play that we recruited came out in the second half.”
Williams built on that debut performance Saturday.