Aneyas Williams has had to stay patient, but it’s now his time at Notre Dame.
The Missouri native waited behind Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price for two seasons, rushing for 443 yards and seven touchdowns. That included 224 yards and five touchdowns in 2025, despite playing the entire season with an arm injury that continued to worsen with each hit.
Williams began his push to become Notre Dame’s RB1 in the spring, even though he couldn’t take contact. He was still out there during team periods, doing everything he could to set the tone.
“I pushed the limits and I'm going to keep pushing the limits,” said Williams. “That's just what I'm going to do. This opportunity is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I wasn't worried about the date. I was just worried about when I felt like I could play and I could be out there, so I was out there.”
Williams originally injured the arm during fall camp and missed some time, but he continued to play through it during the 2025 season. The more hits he took, the worse it became.
“I think because I had injured it in camp and I was messing with a big bursa sac on my elbow, it just kept inflaming. I think Stanford, I hit it and it re-flamed up. I was like, ‘Man, this doesn't feel right.’”
Williams had the injury evaluated entering the spring and discovered he had partially torn his tricep.
“Going into spring, checked it out and then my tricep was partially torn. It never really got better over time, but it wasn't getting worse. They kind of came to me and were like, ‘Well, we need you to be healthy. Let's figure this out.’ That's the decision we made.”
Now healthy, Williams is preparing for the biggest workload of his Notre Dame career.
The opening of the Jack and Kathy Shields Family Hall should give Williams and his teammates more opportunities to recover throughout the season, but the junior running back is also making small changes to how he practices that could pay dividends late in the year.
“One of the biggest things right now is running to and from the field,” Williams stated. “The emphasis on me having a bigger workload, I have to be in condition to handle that. That's been a big thing for me.
“The summer conditioning with (Loren) Landow, we were very specific on what I work with. I knew I was going to have a bigger load this year. That comes with more conditioning. That's been really a big focus, being able to handle six, eight plays straight, and whatever, however many plays that drive is, being able to handle that.”
Toughness has never been a question with Williams, and you can see it every time he touches the football.
He credits his family for developing that mentality, even if he wasn’t always a fan of the methods used to get him there.
“I'll give my mom the credit,” explained Williams. “That and kind of being in a single-parent household with a bunch of sisters. My oldest sister bullied me to death. I have to give her some credit, too. But just kind of the maturity level growing up really quick and going through hard times. I just never learned to back down from a challenge.”
Williams has already showcased his big-play ability and effectiveness as a weapon in the passing game. Perhaps his biggest impact this season could come in short-yardage situations, an area where Notre Dame struggled at times last year.
“That's kind of ingrained in me,” stated Williams. “I think it's a mindset. One-on-one matchups in short yardage, that's what we're trying to create, and I want to win that one-on-one matchup every time because that's my role. I think I just got the right mindset, got the right feel and I'm not going to be stopped.”
That confidence could lead to Williams having a big season and if all goes to plan, the junior running back won’t be in South Bend long.
The NCAA approved the 5-for-5 rule, which gives Williams another year of eligiblity, but that’s not in his plans.
“I never planned on using it,” said Williams. “I'm giving you an honest answer. I'm just trying to take it day by day. That provides maybe a cushion.
“I'm not trying to look at it that way just because a running back's timeline is short. I'm just trying to stay in the present. That’s the key. That should be where my focus is.”
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