Notre Dame Football: 3 bold predictions vs. Michigan

3. Dexter Williams rushes for 100 yards

So this is a bold prediction on a few fronts. First, it’s not even a given that senior Dexter Williams will play in Saturday’s contest. It’s been well documented at this point that Kelly has been extremely withholding about the whole situation, so there’s just as good a chance that Williams doesn’t record a single carry against the Wolverines.

Second, quarterback Brandon Wimbush is quite the runner, taking up a fair share of drawn-up run plays himself. However, Wimbush’s passing game has been a point of emphasis this offseason, so we may see a decent amount of snaps run through the backfield if all goes well. Should this be the case, Williams’ explosive ability could lead to a few big runs in addition to a touchdown or two.

Putting up 100 rushing yards is no easy feat, especially considering Michigan’s top 20 run defense a year ago. However, Wimbush demands plenty of respect as a runner, opening up many holes in the option game. Star running back Josh Adams saw a great deal of success alongside Wimbush, providing hope that the same can be said for Williams at the end of the season.

All things considered, the hype surrounding Williams can be easily substantiated. Williams was one of the most efficient rushers in the game last year, but the small sample size should somewhat temper expectations. If he does play, there would be no better time to shine than in a matchup against one of the program’s greatest rivals.