This Kansas Jayhawks running back made the most of his opportunity in win vs. UCF
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- Leshon Williams seized opportunity vs UCF, rushed 58 yards and three TDs.
- He matched his career touchdown total in one game after transferring to Kansas.
- Williams converted red zone chances efficiently, producing 24 points on four trips.
Kansas Jayhawks running back Leshon Williams had a career night Saturday.
With Kansas’ top back, Daniel Hishaw, missing a second straight week of action due to injury, Williams made the most of his opportunities in KU’s close road win over UCF.
He rushed for three touchdowns and 58 yards on 12 carries against the Knights. This, after running for just three TDs total in four seasons at Iowa, his school before transferring to Kansas.
That’s right: Williams matched that total in one game on Saturday.
“I think it’s my first time (scoring three touchdowns),” he said. “I have to give a huge shoutout to my O-line, tight ends, receivers and all the coaches that trust me to get the 1-2 yards. It’s love.”
Perhaps the most impressive part was his efficiency in the red zone. A week after KU left plenty of points on the board in the red zone, Williams helped the Jayhawks net 24 points in four red-zone trips.
His play earned the praise of KU coach Lance Leipold.
“He’s another guy that’s been banged up,” Leipold said. “He’s a tough son of a gun, I’ll tell you that. Midweek, he’s still fighting through it, and he’s limited in practice quite a bit in what he’s doing.
“I’ll ask him how he’s doing, he goes, ‘I’ll be good to go by Saturday.’”
The coach continued.
“He’s not a guy that’s looking to pace himself,” Leipold said. “He just knows his body and knows what it’s going to take. He’s physical. There’s some big runs for him that weren’t touchdowns that you could really see him churning his legs and moving the pile and keeping us in good down-and-distance situations.”
Williams downplayed his injury after Saturday’s game.
“I’ve got no choice,” he said. “I’ve got to push it every time. I can’t go out there and be like, ‘Aw, I’m banged up.’ They are probably banged up, too. Got to get the job done, that’s all.”
Kansas finally won a one-score game, thanks in no small part to Williams’ contributions. The Jayhawks improved to 2-6 in one-score games since the start of the 2024 season.
“It was great,” Williams said of the win. “We have a great offense and I also feel like we’ve got a great defense, as ya’ll seen today.
“Truthfully, it always comes down to us executing. If we’re not rolling, we’re really shooting ourselves in the foot, truthfully. “
This story was originally published October 6, 2025 at 5:30 AM with the headline "This Kansas Jayhawks running back made the most of his opportunity in win vs. UCF."
