EJ Williams explains redshirt decision, clears air on Indiana coach saying he quit on team

Indiana’s EJ Williams has taken to social media to explain his circumstances in Bloomington.

Williams did so this morning in a post on Twitter. He explained what led him to this decision to redshirt and enter the transfer portal after undergoing a surgery for another injury in his career. As he put it, that was viewed “as quitting on the team”, which has now led to him leaving the Hoosiers.

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— E.J. Williams (@_ejda1) October 22, 2024

“I’m not on the team anymore because I opted to get surgery to have a better opportunity to compete at playing time, to be 100% healthy, and help contribute to a great football team next year,” wrote Williams. “I made this decision because the team was perfectly fine without me in the game and I also want to have a chance at being able to continue my career at the professional level.”

“While making this decision, my coach saw it as quitting on the team, so if I was to redshirt I wouldn’t be able to come back to the program next season,” Williams continued. “I completely understand and respected his decision as he respected mine. It’s no hard feelings or bad blood. I appreciate the entire staff here at IU for everything while I was apart of the program and wish my teammates the best as they continue to compete and dominate this season.”

Williams was off of the team’s listed roster yesterday after appearing in their game this past weekend where he played as much as he had all fall.

Williams was in his second season at Indiana after starting his collegiate career with three years at Clemson. In that time, he appeared in 45 games where he caught 65 passes for 772 yards and two touchdowns. A majority of that came in his first seasons with each respective program as a freshman with the Tigers and then after transferring in last year for the Hoosiers.

In 2024, Williams had posted a catch apiece in each of the last two at IU. He caught one for 37 yards at Northwestern while also having a reception for 12 yards this weekend against Nebraska.

Despite Indiana’s success this season, Williams is now the latest from the roster to leave the team. Donaven McCulley, Tyrik McDaniel, and Nahji Logan have also all entered the portal earlier in this season.

Now, after appearing in four games this season, Williams is another player ending his own season with a redshirt following his surgery.