Aneyas Williams: Notre Dame's Patient RB Making Most of Limited Opportunities

A Patient Approach: Aneyas Williams' Journey at Notre Dame

When you think of Notre Dame's powerful running back corps, names like Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price often come to mind first. But behind these stars is a young, determined back making the most of every opportunity: sophomore Aneyas Williams.

Williams has navigated a challenging sophomore season, one that's required immense patience and resilience. Despite limited carries, the Missouri native has proven when he does get the ball, he's a threat to take it to the house.

Limited Snaps, Maximum Impact

As Williams himself noted, he actually had more carries last season than the total number of offensive snaps he's played so far this season. Through 2025, he's accumulated just 14 carries for 141 yards and an impressive three touchdowns, averaging 10.1 yards per touch.

"Whenever I get on the field, it's an opportunity that millions of other people don't have," Williams explained in a recent interview. "So I'll take any ounce of playing time and just be grateful to be able to play this sport."

His patience has been tested with the emergence of Jeremiyah Love as a Heisman Trophy candidate and Jadarian Price sharing the bulk of carries. Yet Williams remains positive, recognizing the talent in front of him.

Overcoming Adversity

Beyond limited playing time, Williams has battled through physical adversity. An elbow injury suffered in week 2 of camp has been an everyday battle.

"It's been feeling fine for a really long time," Williams said of the injury. "I think it was week 2 of camp when it happened. It's a long recovery. It really goes on my time, with not a lot of downtime, it's hard."

Despite the pain, he's continued to contribute, particularly on special teams where he's played a crucial role on kickoff returns, often blocking for the dynamic Price.

The Stanford Spotlight

Williams made his presence felt in a big way against Stanford on November 30, 2025. With Love nursing a rib injury, the Fighting Irish turned to their backup options, and Williams delivered.

On an 8-play, 54-yard touchdown drive that took just 3:21, Williams contributed with a 10-yard run and a 25-yard reception. He capped off the drive with a two-yard touchdown run, extending Notre Dame's lead to 28-0 in a game where all three Fighting Irish running backs found the end zone.

"I talked to my mom, I fall back on God just knowing that everything is going to be alright in the end," Williams shared. "Those opportunities that I do get to showcase what might have been forgotten, it brings a little bit of a smile to my face."

Mindset Matters

Williams credits his positive mindset for navigating the challenges of his sophomore season. He's learned to separate bad practices from bad weeks and has moved beyond selfish tendencies.

"Mindset. That's the biggest thing," Williams stated. "Understanding this game, where a bad practice doesn't mean a bad week. That's where I was for a while and it made it hard to be happy, it made it hard to stay positive and even probably led to some selfish tendencies, just wanting to see others not do as well as they could. But knowing I overcame that is a better feeling to be honest with you and it's made being here a lot more enjoyable."

The Bigger Picture

With two first-round caliber running backs ahead of him on the depth chart, Williams maintains a long-term perspective on his Notre Dame career.

"I just have to be patient. I have a long career ahead and there's no rush. Being okay with where my feet are. That's that," Williams said.

He recognizes the special environment of Notre Dame's running back room and the opportunity to learn from talented teammates.

"And just understanding this running back room and how special it is, it's kind of hard to be negative on yourself. I've got two first-rounders in front of me, so you've got to see the big picture," Williams explained.

As Notre Dame continues its season with championship aspirations, Aneyas Williams remains ready. Whether he's carrying the ball, blocking for a teammate, or contributing on special teams, his patience and positive attitude have positioned him as a valuable member of the Fighting Irish family.