Texas Tech true freshman RB opens eyes during first fall scrimmage

Entering the offseason, plenty of people were concerned about what the Texas Tech football team's running back situation looked like behind starter Tahj Brooks. Fortunately, the other RBs on the roster have impressed in fall camp. That includes true freshman J'Koby Williams.

In fact, Williams was one of the players that head coach Joey McGuire mentioned by name as being a standout from the first scrimmage of fall camp. And he got his opportunity because of a minor injury to another freshman backup running back.

"Cam Dickey rolled his ankle in practice," McGuire said on Saturday, "so he didn't go today. So that pushed J'Koby Williams up to get some with the twos and that kid is special. I mean, in the open field, he had two big runs of 25 and 35 yards. It was really good to see."

Williams didn't arrive with too much fanfare. A former three-star prospect from tiny Beckville, Texas, he was just the No. 49 running back in his class according to 247Sports.

Committed to Texas Tech since June of 2023, he wasn't a player that Red Raider fans had been chomping at the bit to see play right away. And given the depth that is starting to emerge in the running back room, he might not have a huge role to play this year.

Of course, Brooks is going to get the lion's share of the carries this season. What's more, junior Cam'Ron Valdez and true freshman Cam Dickey are expected to be his primary backups.

Thus, don't be shocked to see Williams play in only four games so that he can maintain his ability to redshirt this season. That might be good considering that the 5-foot-10 back is only 180 pounds. Perhaps a year in the weight room will do him some good, especially because he must be strong enough to be a pass blocker in the backfield if he wants to play meaningful snaps.

Still, it is encouraging to hear the coaches heap praise on the players behind Brooks considering that this will be his final season as a Red Raider.

"Right now I feel like we've got four guys," Texas Tech running backs coach Kenny Perry said on Monday. "Cam Valdez...this is the best fall camp he's had. Cam Dickey, he was trending. He had a great spring. He's banged up. He'll be back.

"J'Koby Williams, what a bright surprise he's been for us. The kid loves football. He's that 'Beast Texas' mentality. He just plays hard. He loves playing football.

"We've got four guys right now that I really feel good about. I think they all can do something. So that's a good problem to have. You know, as long as we got [No.] 28 back there, everything's pretty good."

As for Williams, he is just touching the surface of what he could become. He only arrived on campus at the start of fall camp and already he's making a name for himself among the coaches.

It seems that he's playing his way into consideration to not only play some this season but to be considered a piece of the running back puzzle moving forward into 2025. So keep Williams' name filed away in your memory bank because the true freshman is already showing that he's got what it takes to be a major contributor for the Red Raiders, even if his time likely won't arrive this season.