Pooka Williams not asking for more carries: ‘I want everybody on the field to eat’
Despite averaging just 13 carries a game, Kansas running back Pooka Williams says he has no complaints about his workload through two games of the 2020 college football season.
“I’m a team player. I want everybody on the field to eat,” Williams, KU’s junior All-America candidate from New Orleans said after carrying 14 times for 76 yards and two touchdowns in Saturday’s 47-14 loss to Baylor in Waco, Texas.
He had 12 carries for 67 yards and no scores in KU’s 38-23 season-opening defeat to Coastal Carolina on Sept. 12 at Booth Memorial Stadium. An undisclosed injury early in the second half limited Williams’ availability that game.
“I’m just trying to do what’s best for the team,” added the two-time first-team all-Big 12 player who, after the Baylor game, insisted he’s 100 percent healthy heading into Saturday’s Homecoming contest against No. 17-ranked Oklahoma State (2:30 p.m., Booth Memorial Stadium, ESPN).
Williams, who caught three passes for 24 yards against Baylor after recording no receptions versus Coastal Carolina, could be showcased more versus OSU.
“I’d like to get him a few more touches to be honest with you,” second-year KU coach Les Miles said. “The ball … there’s only one of them. We get it around pretty regularly to the other spots. We like some of the other options that we have to get the ball to them. Keeping Pooka fresh also is a key piece.”
The 5-10, 170-pound Williams’ 13 carries per contest compare to 18.5 carries a game as a sophomore and 14.6 carries per game as a freshman.
“I see Pooka getting better and better,” Miles predicted.
Williams has gained 143 yards on 26 carries (5.5 yards per carry) and two touchdowns in two games after totaling 1,042 yards on 203 carries (5.1 yards per carry) and three rushing TDs in 2019.
As a freshman he he gained 1,125 yards on 161 carries (7.0 yards per carry) with seven TDs. He had 27 catches for 214 yards and two TDs as a receiver out of the backfield last year and 33 catches for 289 yards and two TDs as a freshman.
“One thing about Pooka, he has leadership abilities. He is one of the more natural runners I have ever seen, a Hall of Famer from the state of Louisiana which produces great, very special running backs. I just want you to know I think he’ll finish this year in a great position,” Miles said.
Williams’ teammates would be OK if he is the focal point of the offense Saturday.
“If we get Pooka more touches,” said junior offensive lineman Earl Bostick, “I feel it will open up the game, just by showing we can run the ball more and get in a situation we can pass easily.”
Williams says he is looking forward to seeing the continued progress of freshman quarterback Jalon Daniels.
Daniels, who played the final series of the Coastal Carolina game, started and took every snap from center on Saturday at Baylor. Making his first start, Daniels, a 6-0, 200-pound native of Lawndale, California, completed 19 of 33 passes for 159 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions.
“We didn’t come out with a victory (but) he played like a veteran quarterback,” Williams said.
“We’ve seen a lot of energy, a lot of focus. He is doing everything right, keeping the offense up when we are down. He is just doing everything a veteran will do,” Williams added.
Receiver Andrew Parchment, who had three catches for 14 yards vs. Baylor, agrees.
“I saw lot of leadership, saw him competing no matter how bood or bad the situation was,’ Parchment said. “He got hit and kept getting up. It shows toughness for a 17-year-old starting his first game.
“One time I walked over to him. We laughed a little bit. I asked if he was all right after a big hit. He said, ‘Heck yeah I’m OK.’ It was good to see.”
Daniels carried 14 times for 23 yards. He was sacked four times including once on a safety.
“To continue to get up … he could have thrown in the towel and said, ‘I’m not ready, coach,’’’ Parchment said. “For him the sky is the limit. He’s just going to keep getting better.”
KU coach Miles said as recently as Wednesday he was not ready to announce a starting QB for Saturday. Thomas MacVittie was not available last game because of an undisclosed injury (believed to be an arm or shoulder injury), Miles said. QB Miles Kendrick was healthy but not used at Baylor after playing about half the game against Coastal Carolina.
“We know that Jalon Daniels is going to be there,” Miles said Wednesday. “And we’ve got to get two of these other guys healthy and then find out. One thing we’ve enjoyed is competition.”
This story was originally published October 2, 2020 at 9:56 AM with the headline "Pooka Williams not asking for more carries: ‘I want everybody on the field to eat’."
