What if Damian Williams Has to Start vs. Arkansas?
Nov 16, 2013; Starkville, MS, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Damian Williams (14) hands the ball off to running back LaDarius Perkins (27) during the game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Davis Wade Stadium. Alabama Crimson Tide defeat the Mississippi State Bulldogs with a score of 20-7. Mandatory Credit: Spruce Derden-USA TODAY Sports
Rumors have been rampant this week regarding the health of Dak Prescott and Tyler Russell. They are as far stretched as both with be fully healthy this week to they are 100% out for the year. It doesn’t seem that much of anyone outside the Bulldog locker room really knows for sure. So for the purposes of this post let’s just assume 3rd string QB Damian Williams will get the start in Little Rock because Dak and Tyler are unavailable.
Coach Mullen took the redshirt off Williams early – with Russell’s concussion in mind he played the entire second half vs. Alcorn State. Then he played most of the second half vs. Troy. Both games were blowouts, and he didn’t receive an action until being thrust into the fire against Alabama, in the 4th quarter, with the game still in doubt.
Stats
Passing: 11 of 23 for 152 yards. 0 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: 14 carries for 46 yards
As far as 3rd string true freshman quarterbacks go, he does have some experience. He’s basically played one full game with all his action combined. In that Alabama game he was 0 of 5, but three of those balls were dropped including a sure touchdown. His best game was against Alcorn where he threw for 105 yards and rushed for 25 more.
Williams has been described as Relf, Jr. He even wears the same number: 14. But it’s also been noted that he looks like a more natural passer. The question will be how much of the playbook does he know, how well can he run it, and can he make the throws he needs to considering this is a SEC game the Dawgs MUST win?
If Williams gets hurt, the obvious choice has to be Jameon Lewis. A QB in high school, he’s 3 of 3 this year for 84 yards and 3 TD. He could run some wildcat and be a threat to throw the ball. We could also run some sets with both Damian and Jameon in the backfield at the same time, you never know.
Damian Williams is good enough for MSU to win this game. He may not have to win it himself, but he should be able to facilitate the offense enough to get it done against a downtrodden Razorback team. If he were to have to start this game and the Egg Bowl, and were to win both of him – he’d go down as the man who saved the 2013 season.