2024 four-star RB Aneyas Williams commits to Notre Dame football

Hannibal (Mo.) High class of 2024 running back Aneyas Williams has announced his commitment to Notre Dame, choosing the Fighting Irish over finalists Alabama, Kentucky and Tennessee.

The four-star running back picked up an offer from Notre Dame June 5 while on campus for the Irish Invasion camp, as he showed out in front of position coach Deland McCullough and Co. He also visited at the end of July and twice in November, leading to his pledge to the Irish.

“It was how they recruited me,” Williams told Blue & Gold regarding his choice of Notre Dame. “It was different and separated themselves from others. One of the biggest things you hear from other recruits who commit is how you’ll know and have that feeling about picking a school. I got that early with Notre Dame, and I went back again to make sure it just wasn’t me being in awe. And it felt the same every time.

“I have Coach [Marcus] Freeman and Coach [Tommy] Rees always texting me. Coach Deland shows me a lot of love. They recruited me the best out of everyone — not even close. Coach Deland has made the trip down here twice in the past week. They’ve made it clear how they feel about me, which is huge. His résumé is nuts.”

So much of recruiting if about effort, but that alone doesn’t make the difference when it comes to a staff landing a prospect. And Notre Dame’s coaches pushed the right buttons when it came to going after Williams.

“I feel like I really got the truth from them,” he said. “When I hear from Coach Deland about what he’s going to do and then they go out and do it on the field, that’s huge for me.”

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Williams ranks as the No. 140 overall prospect and No. 13 running back according to the 2024 On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

He is Notre Dame’s seventh commitment in the 2024 class and first running back pledge in the cycle.

More on Williams’ commitment

Notre Dame was a major contender for all of Williams’ recruitment, but it was when he visited for the Irish’s upset victory over a No. 4 Clemson squad that he knew he wanted to pick Freeman’s program.

“I was at the Clemson game, and that made a big impact,” he said. “I’ve yet to hear anything bad about the school. I know I can’t go wrong with Notre Dame.”

The 5-10, 195-pounder tried to communicate to the Notre Dame staff his intentions to commit, but that message didn’t quite make it to them.

“I thought I told them during the visit, but I guess they didn’t completely get it,” Williams said with a laugh. “They didn’t think I was being serious. A week or so later, I was talking to Coach [Chad] Bowden, and he was like, ‘Wait, what? You need to tell Coach Freeman.’ So I got on the phone with him, and he sat in silence for a good few seconds. He said this is huge for us and a big get for us. He wants me to help build the class up.”

It’s an early commitment from Williams, who is only halfway through his junior season. He knows what’s to come for him despite his commitment.

“It’s a relief, but I know that it’s not going to slow down,” he said. “I’ll handle it how it needs to be handled. I can’t see myself switching to another team, at least not as of right now.”

Williams has a message for Notre Dame fans regarding what the Irish are getting in him on and off the field.

“I’m a leader,” Williams stated. “I want to help others get better — whatever it takes. I’ll put others before myself. And on the field, there’s not a thing I can’t do. That’ll be big for Notre Dame with how they use their backs. I promise that I’m going to have a big effect.”

“Off the field, I like to make a good impact on my community. I want to build relationships outside of football.”

The Aneyas Williams file

In 2020, the Missouri Coaches Football Association (MOFBCA) listed Williams a Class 4 second-team all-state performer with the “athlete” designation. He was the only freshman to earn first or second-team honors. He had 1,280 all-purpose yards and 24 scores in his first year of varsity ball.

Williams had 2,756 all-purpose yards and accounted for 47 touchdowns during his sophomore season. He totaled 105 carries for 1,001 yards with 20 touchdowns, while catching 63 passes for 1,297 yards and 24 scores through the air. He also played safety and recorded 73 tackles and 3 interceptions.

Williams was named the 2021 Keokuk Hannibal Quincy Area (KHWA) player of the year. The MOFBCA had him as a Class 4 first-team all-state player at wide receiver.

His junior season was fantastic as well, posting 1,999 all-purpose yards and 34 touchdowns in just 9 games. He earned Class 4 first-team all-state honors once again, this time being listed as a running back.

Through three seasons, Williams has accounted for 6,035 all-purpose yards and 102 touchdowns.

“You can create a lot of crazy matchups with someone like him because he’s able to run a power game between the tackles,” Hannibal head coach Jeff Gschwender told the Courrier Post. “You could put him anywhere you want and create matchups as a No. 2 receiver, as a No. 1 receiver, a receiver out of the backfield or you could pound him up the middle.”