Mississippi State Football Spring Practice Position Previews: MSU has a Multitude of Running Backs
By Ethan Lee
Aeris Williams Should Lead the Way for Mississippi State
Aeris Williams has been incredibly successful at Mississippi State so far. He stands at 6-1, weighs 220 pounds per the MSU roster, and has a penchant for cutting up the field in an efficient and effective manner.
Williams didn’t receive much playing time his freshman season, only carrying the ball 40 times for 206 yards and a trio of touchdowns.
During his sophomore year, Williams grabbed everyone’s attention as Mississippi State football upset then No. 4 Texas A&M and beat down Ole Miss. Down that stretch, Williams proved himself to be a solid back in the SEC and accumulated a total of 720 yards and 4 touchdowns.
This past season, Aeris Williams was a steady, reliable option for Mississippi State to turn to alongside Nick Fitzgerald. Williams was slowed slightly as his yards per carry went down a bit, but he put over 1100 yards up through the season, scored 6 touchdowns, and scared Nick Saban’s defense when Alabama came to town.
But it wasn’t just his running ability that was proven, Williams showed that he could be a reliable pass catcher when needed to in certain situations. On the year, he caught 16 passes for a total of 142 yards. It’s possible that in Joe Moorhead’s offense, that receiving total will go up a bit.
Expect Williams to get the brunt of the workload when it comes to running the ball in 2018. He’s got the most experience and has proven to be a dynamic running back when tested. He’s also a great partner to run alongside Nick Fitzgerald.