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David Williams
RS Junior
Running Back
6’1”, 216
Philadelphia, PA
Recruitment
Williams was one of the more sought after RBs in his class. He was the #8 all purpose back and a top 200 player nationally in the 2013 cycle. He pledged to the Gamecocks in January 2013 - spurning overtures from Miami (Fla.) - and made it official on National Signing Day a month later. Arizona State, Auburn, Maryland, Michigan State, Tennessee, West Virginia and Wisconsin were among his offers.
College Career
After redshirting the 2013 season, Williams came off the bench in eight games in 2014 and ran for 256 yards and two TDs on 45 carries. Last year, he was set to be used alongside Brandon Wilds as a co-featured back, but that never materialized. Despite playing in all twelve games (starting four games in place of Wilds), he only managed 299 yards and zero touchdowns on 86 carries.
2016 Outlook
With Wilds in the NFL, RB1 is Williams’ to lose right now. He will be potentially backed by A.J. Turner in 2016, who is listed behind him in the post-spring and pre-fall two deep, but don’t think guys like C.J. Freeman will be gunning to move up once preseason camp starts rolling. This is Williams’ time to live up to the expectations that will be placed on him as the team’s featured back. Whether or not things finally click for him and he takes that next step is entirely up to him.