The most interesting running back in the 2022 NFL Draft Class... well, maybe. Kyren Williams was recruited as a wide receiver to several schools including Nebraska, after a dominant career at St. John Vianney in Missouri, that ended with a massive 354 yards from scrimmage performance in a State Championship win, Williams went on to commit to Notre Dame in June before the season. After the State Championship, Williams graduated early and enrolled at Notre Dame in January to get a head start on the rest of the class.
Although Kyren's freshman season did not go as planned, he was able to learn how to be a pro from future NFL players Tony Jones, Chase Claypool and Cole Kmet. In his first career start as a sophomore, Williams totaled 112 rushing yards on 19 carries, and 2 receptions for 93 yards, his role as the #1 running back in south bend was cemented. Over the course of his final two seasons at Notre Dame, Kyren scored multiple touchdowns in 11 of 24 games, and touched the ball 20+ times in 14 such games.
Kyren Williams draft stock took a real hit after a disappointing Combine. He was selected in the 5th round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams. After a rookie season with little to no action, he seemed to be a forgotten player while everyone clamored for Cam Akers. Instead, Kyren became the teams workhorse at running back, as he scored 15 rushing touchdowns and had the highest snap share among all running backs. He did miss some games down the stretch due to injury, and missed out on the last of the NFC Wild Card Matchup against Detroit due to a hand injury. The Rams clearly want to avoid this happening again, and they drafted Blake Corum in the 2024 NFL Draft, who slots in as the #2 back behind Williams.
He may not steal carries right away, but he can be brought in and cut into the volume that Williams received so much of in 2023.
