Notre Dame holds off Missouri, signs four-star RB Aneyas Williams
You won’t find many more productive high school players than Aneyas Williams, a running back who signed with Notre Dame on the morning of National Signing Day.
Williams ran 477 times for 4,255 yards and added 177 receptions for 3,249 receiving yards and accounted for 152 career touchdowns. Not surprisingly, Williams will arrive at Notre Dame as a highly decorated player, being named the 2023 Missouri Class 4 Offensive Player of the Year after totaling 46 scores during his senior year alone.
His junior season was fantastic as well, posting 1,999 all-purpose yards and 34 touchdowns in just 9 games. He earned Missouri Class 4 first-team all-state honors.
Williams committed to Notre Dame on Dec. 16, 2022, over the likes of Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio State, Alabama, Florida, Oregon, Georgia, Tennessee and many others.
Missouri is having an outstanding season and is playing in a New Year’s Six Bowl this winter. The in-state Tigers tried to pull off a late flip of Williams, but the four-star ball carrier stayed true to his pledge.
“I made a commitment, and I’m big on loyalty,” Williams told Blue & Gold a few weeks ago. “I want to keep my word — that’s for sure.”
Williams, who ranks as the No. 276 overall prospect and No. 21 running back according to the 2024 On3 Industry Ranking, loves the university and its coaching staff, but there’s no doubt that his favorite aspect of the program is running backs coach Deland McCullough.
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“It’s really laid back,” Williams said of his connection with McCullough. “The more and more we talk, I forget that he’s my coach, to be honest with you. I can really open up to him. Shoot, he knows my life better than some of my family members. It’s one of those relationship.”
On the first day of the December recruiting contact period, McCullough made it out to the Show Me State to spend several hours with Williams and his family.
“It was really nice,” Williams said. “It had been a while since I saw him because I wasn’t able to make it up there much during the football season. We talked some football and how he’s going to develop me and what I need to bring to the table. Communication between him, my parents and me when I’m there was a big thing during our conversation.
“It’s pretty cool to have someone of that stature to little ole Hannibal, Missouri.”
Williams will enroll at Notre Dame in January and will look to make his mark on the Irish running back room as a true freshman.
