Louisville RB Dae Williams Tears ACL, Putting 2017 Season In Jeopardy


According to the parents of Dae Williams, the Louisville running back tore his ACL at practice. He had been getting some first-team reps as the Cardinals prepare for the 2017 season.


Most college football fans are likely expecting reigning Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Lamar Jackson to once again put up prolific numbers when the 2017 college football season commences, but Louisville is still looking for more play makers to emerge for its star signal-caller.

Redshirt freshman running back Dae Williams was a player who shined this spring as the Cardinals begin early preparations for the new campaign, but it appears that the hopes of Williams being a significant part of the offensive backfield in 2017 has taken a major hit.

According to his parents on Wednesday, Williams tore his ACL in a knee at practice a week ago, which puts his availability for the new season in serious doubt. Louisville has not yet confirmed Williams’ injury, and head coach Bobby Petrino isn’t scheduled to meet with the media again until after the spring game.

The 6-foot-2, 230-pound Williams was able to earn some first-team reps this spring, and it appeared that he had a good chance to be a contributor from the get-go when the new season kicks off. His parents stated that he is scheduled to have surgery at some point next week, with mother Monica Williams saying that her son hopes to return to the field by October. ACL surgery typically requires about a six-month recovery, so there’s no question that even on that timetable it would be tough for Williams to be in top game shape for the Cardinals’ stretch run. It’s a tough blow for the squad because Williams has the running style that some of the bigger backs featured on some of Petrino’s teams in his first stint at Louisville.

Senior Jeremy Smith, who is in line to see a good number of carries in the fall, is also injured. That means that Petrino’s squad will be very short-handed in the offensive backfield for the team’s spring game on Saturday. Smith’s undisclosed injury is thought to be minor, meaning he should be clear for the start of fall camp in August. While Smith was out two weekends ago, Williams received first-team reps in a scrimmage and scored four touchdowns.

Senior Reggie Bonnafon, a former quarterback who lines up mostly at wide receiver, was slotted at running back in this past weekend’s scrimmage, splitting time with sophomore Trey Smith. Bonnafon played running back in 2015 as well as last spring, so he has some experience. But the team is certainly thin, especially with Malik Williams still being limited while he recovers from last year’s season-ending leg injury.

2017 four-star recruit Colin Wilson now has a chance to make an even more immediate impact once he arrives on campus. He was one of the team’s highest-rated recruits this past National Signing Day.

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