Dae Williams and Colin Wilson Ready to Lead Louisville Football’s Offense in 2018

Though plagued by injury and inexperience in 2017, Louisville football’s running back stable could finally be at full strength with Dae Williams and Colin Wilson leading the way.

Louisville football’s offensive unit will look completely different in 2018. With the loss of Lamar Jackson, Puma Pass and his offensive weapons will bring an entirely new dynamic to the table.

Two of those offensive weapons that will be completely transforming the offense are redshirt freshman Colin Wilson, and redshirt sophomore Dae Williams.

Williams and Wilson are relative unknowns for this team, especially given the experience of other units like offense line and wide receiver. However, this doesn’t mean that the running back stable doesn’t have the ability to be one of the strongest on the team.

Louisville returns junior Trey Smith, who running back’s coach Kolby Smith called the leader of the running backs room. Additionally, converted linebacker Malik Staples will get a crack at running back to help shore up depth, and Louisville will sprinkle in some freshmen talent with Javian Hawkins and Hassan Hall coming in for the 2018 recruiting class. Up front, the Cards will be led by fullback Tobias Little, who has shown the ability to convert in some short-yardage situations.

However, if Louisville wants to have success running the ball in 2018, the responsibility is going to fall solely on Williams and Wilson.

Wilson was the second best running back in the state of Florida coming out of high school. At the time of his commit, he was a coveted four star back who could hit holes with authority, and finish with breakaway speed. However, Wilson only saw time in two games his freshman year.

When Wilson got carries, he was electric. He had 6 carries for 69 yards, and 2 receptions for 15 yards in 2017, before being injured in a game on September 30th against Murray State.

Wilson showed the ability to find a hole immediately, and finished every play strong. He is also a threat out of the backfield, which is something that could come in handy given Louisville’s strong wide receiver core and their likely propensity to throw it deep.

It is a very small sample size to work with, but Wilson has what it takes to be a lead back for this Louisville squad.

Dae Williams brings an added dimension to the running back core as well. Williams showed lots of promise coming into last season, as the coaches raved about him and the possibility of him getting significant touches at running back.

This came to an end quickly, as Williams tore his ACL in the preseason. Williams healed miraculously, and was able to see playing time in the Cards’s last 6 games.

The fact that Williams was able to come back so quickly from a serious injury and still contribute as much as he did is a testament to his toughness. Williams was again hampered during the spring, and there is no time table on his return. But if his past is any indication, Williams will be ready to return to full action by the start of fall practice.

Unlike Wilson, Williams was not highly touted out of high school, but is another great find by Bobby Petrino and staff. As soon as he saw playing time, he made a huge impact against Florida State, rushing for 41 yards and a touchdown on just five carries, and one reception for 7 yards.

Williams is an every down kind of back who can absorb hits and break long runs up the middle, but he may be most comfortable when he gets room outside the numbers. He is 6’2,” 230, but surprisingly agile for his size.

Aside from being the two most gifted players at their position, there are a few reasons why Williams and Wilson are primed for a breakout year as a 1-2 punch in the backfield.

More Touches to Go Around

With Lamar Jackson gone, there are going to be a lot more carries to go around for the Cards this year. Puma Pass is an excellent runner at the QB position, but he (nor anyone) is Lamar Jackson. Look for Williams and Wilson to get the rock a lot more this year, and have opportunities to break big plays all game.

Experienced Offensive Line

Louisville will finally have a line that has some experience under its belt, and that will pay huge dividends for the running backs. Look for the size and depth of the offensive line to give Williams and Wilson the opportunity to find holes and get to the second level. That is where these two backs can be deceptively dangerous.

Return to a More Traditional Petrino Scheme

With Jackson gone, Bobby Ball as many people were used to it is back. Look for the offense to bring more confusion to the table due to scheme, and not just confusion due to a literal alien having the ball in his hands at QB.

Look for Puma Pass to go under center a lot more, which will give the running backs a full head of steam in running situations. Petrino will likely utilize a lot more two back and/ or two tight end situations, and have a great mixture of running and passing.

Lastly, look for more continuity between the offensive line and the guys behind them. As good as Lamar Jackson was, even Lamar Jackson didn’t know where the ball was going until he was able to make the proper reads. This meant a lot of guess work from the offensive line, and a lot of plays that didn’t turn out how they should have. That will likely not be the case under Pass, and Williams and Wilson will benefit from this. Having an offensive line that knows where you are going to be creates that trust and continuity that can create opportunities for the backs.

Ultimately, the difference between an average season and a great season for the Cards may fall on the shoulders of Dae Williams and Colin Wilson. If they get healthy and remain healthy in 2018, it could be an excellent year for the Louisville offense.

Next: Louisville Football Depth Chart Preview: Wide Receivers