Notre Dame Football: 5 breakout players to watch in 2018
By Jacob Wilson
5. Dexter Williams, RB
Perhaps one of the most explosive players on the entire Notre Dame roster, running back Dexter Williams served as a complimentary back to workhorse Josh Adams over the course of this past season. However, with the departures of Adams via the NFL Draft and backups Deon McIntosh and C.J. Holmes due to disciplinary reasons, there should be plenty of opportunity for the junior in 2018.
One of the most impressive aspects of Williams’ game is his game-changing speed. Speed served Williams well this past season, as his quickness functioned as a great change of pace from the bruising Adams. In fact, according to a tweet by Pete Sampson of 247Sports, Williams was a mere one carry away from qualifying as the nation’s leader in yards per carry with a 9.2 YPC finish.
With the running back depth chart fading from crowded to thin in a matter of days, Williams will now compete against sophomore Tony Jones Jr. for the starting spot. While a running back by committee approach is a significant possibility considering Kelly’s past, there’s also a great chance that we see Williams claim the spot for himself and run with it.