HOOVER, Ala. — Arkansas bolstered its running back depth with the June addition of South Carolina graduate transfer David Williams, an addition coach Bret Bielema called “a marriage made in heaven” Monday at SEC Media Days.
Sophomore Devwah Whaley is the projected starter, but Williams provides a SEC experience at what became a position of need after Rawleigh Williams’ second neck injury and subsequent retirement, along with Juan Day’s decision to transfer in May. True freshmen Maleek Williams and Chase Hayden are the only other scholarship backs on the roster.
David Williams finished third in rushing for South Carolina last year with 239 yards and three touchdowns while averaging 4.3 yards per carry.
“I just really felt I wanted someone with more maturity in the room if I could get it,” Arkansas coach Bret Bielema said Monday during his first media availability since the Williams transfer was announced.
This marks the second straight year Arkansas has welcomed a grad transfer. Last season, offensive lineman Jake Raulerson transferred from Texas and wound up starting eight games. Bielema famously landed grad transfer quarterback Russell Wilson while at Wisconsin.
Williams ran for 794 yards and five touchdowns in three years at South Carolina. Bielema recruited him while at Wisconsin when Williams was a four-star prospect ranked among the top 150 players in the nation by ESPN in the class of 2014.
“I give a lot of credit to Will (Muschamp) and South Carolina,” Bielema said. “They were very cooperative, didn’t try to put a block on him. I think this young man was recruited by coach (Steve) Spurrier and brought in and things just didn’t go his way and he graduated on time and deserved an opportunity.”