Notre Dame RB Kyren Williams Declares for the 2022 NFL Draft
Notre Dame running back Kyren Williams has declared for the 2022 NFL Draft and will not play in the Fiesta Bowl on January 1st.
It doesn’t come as a shock as the 5-foot-9, 199-pounder put together one of the most impressive two-year campaigns at Notre Dame, while also making fans sit on the edge of their seats with electrifying runs.
Notre Dame fans have come to love Williams and he's come to love Notre Dame.
"It's where my life has really gotten started for me - independently being on my own for the first time and meeting new people from all around the world," said Williams. “Having great bonds with my friends is something I'll never forget.
"My dad always tells me don't forget the relationships and the bonds you have with the people in the locker room or team. Those are things that will last forever.
"To me, I feel like the connections to the guys that are here I go to work with each and every day. I know they're always going to have my back and I'll have theirs. Seeing what Notre Dame has done for me has physically and mentally changed me as a person. I'm forever grateful for that."
Williams will finish his Notre Dame career with 419 carries for 2,153 yards and 27 touchdowns on the ground, while also adding 78 catches for 675 yards and four scores in the passing game.
In 2020, the St. Louis native was somewhat of a question mark entering his first year as the starter, but Williams quickly showed his elite talent by racking up 112 yards on the ground, 93 receiving yards and two touchdowns in the season-opener against Duke.
For his efforts in 2020, Williams is also the only Notre Dame running back in program history to be named an All-ACC selection as the Irish joined the ACC due to COVID-19. Williams was selected to the All-ACC second team, while also winning ACC Rookie of the Year and ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Williams was named captain in 2021 and while it was a slow start, it wasn't any fault of his own as the Notre Dame offensive line struggled to find chemistry, but he finished the year strong. The junior running back had his two biggest games of the year under the bright lights of Notre Dame Stadium this fall. Against USC, Williams rushed for 138 yards and two touchdowns and then followed it up the next week versus North Carolina by running for 199 yards and one touchdown.
The Kyren Williams File
2021
Paul Hornung Award Finalist
Team Captain
Associated Press Preseason All-American First Team
Maxwell Award Watch List
Doak Walker Award Candidate
Paul Hornung Award Watch List
Walter Camp Player of the Year Watch List
Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll (Week 3)
Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll (Week 6)
Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll (Week 8)
Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll (Week 9)
Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll (Week 10)
2020
FWAA Freshman of the Year Finalist
FWAA Freshman All-America
The Athletic Freshman All-America First Team
Sporting News All-America Second Team
Phil Steele All-America Third Team
All-ACC Second Team RB
All-ACC Honorable Mention (All-purpose)
Associated Press Second Team All-ACC
Phil Steele Second Team All-ACC
ACC Rookie of the Year
ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year
Doak Walker Award Semifinalist
FWAA Freshman of the Year Semifinalist
ACC Running Back of the Week vs. Syracuse (12/5)
FWAA Freshman All-American Watch List
FWAA “Fresh Four” of the Week at North Carolina (11/27)
ACC Running Back of the Week at North Carolina (11/27)
ACC Running Back of the Week vs. Clemson (11/7)
CFPA National Performer of the Year November Watch List
ACC Running Back of the Week (Duke)
Gameball recipient: Duke (9/12)
ACC Rookie of the Week (Louisville)