Arkansas Suffers First Setback with Injury to RB Jonathan Williams

Written by Ryan Wright

The Arkansas Razorbacks went through their first scrimmage of fall camp on Saturday and the news coming out was less than positive. On Sunday Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema announced All-SEC running back Jonathan Williams “will miss an extended period of time” due to a foot injury suffered during the Hogs’ scrimmage.

Williams jumped onto the college football scene in 2013 rushing for 900 yards on 150 carries with four scores while splitting time with true freshman Alex Collins. In 2014, the 6’1”, 220 pound, back led the Hogs in rushing racking up 1,190 yards with 12 scores helping Arkansas to a bounce back 7-6 season and a 31-7 Texas Bowl win over the Texas Longhorns.

Bielema took an opportunity to uplift his senior running back posting a message via Twitter reading, “Anyone that knows @Jwillpartw2 knows this is another opportunity to prove the man of character & substance that he is.”

Knowing Williams could have opted to be an early NFL Draft entry after his junior season but decided to come back to help the Arkansas program continue on it’s upward trajectory makes the injury all the more frustrating for Williams, the Arkansas coaching staff along with the players, and Razorback Nation. Williams released a statement on Sunday that read, “This is no doubt a tough moment, but I know through my faith and hard work that I will make a full recovery.

The undisclosed injury is a foot injury that will require surgery to mend. Williams picked up 70 yards rushing on 11 carries before going down with the injury late in the Razorbacks scrimmage.

Arkansas returns junior All-SEC running back Alex Collins and junior Kody Walker. Williams’ injury more than likely will push true freshman Rawleigh Williams into a greater role into the Hogs’ offense in 2015.

Photo credit: wholehogsports.com; No. 32 Jonathan Williams scores a touchdown against Texas A&M.