“Boom” Williams: one of the SEC’s hidden gems
Despite the preseason predictions, the play of “Boom” Williams has thrust Kentucky right into second place in the SEC East. If the Vols want to defeat the Wildcats, they’ll have to slow him down.
Commonwealth Stadium Kentucky - Oct. 12, 2012. Photo obtained via creativecommons.org. No changes made.
Sophomore running back Stanley “Boom” Williams has carried his Kentucky Wildcats team to a 5-4 (4-3 SEC) record and second place in the SEC East. Williams has the fourth most rushing yards in the SEC with 898. Last week Williams scampered for 77 yards and a touchdown on a Georgia defense that is 20th in the nation in rush defense.
Williams’ play is even more impressive given that Kentucky quarterback Stephen Johnson is second to last in the SEC in passing yards, and he only has seven passing touchdowns on the season. Kentucky does not have much of a pass game to compliment Williams on the ground, which has presented problems in giving him more chances to succeed.
The 5-foot-9 bulldozer for the Wildcats has had four games with over 100-yards rushing this season and has already out-rushed his total number of yards from last year. Included in those four games of 100-yards rushing are his outbursts of 181 yards against New Mexico State and 182 yards against Missouri two weeks ago.
“Boom” Williams and the Wildcats will travel to Knoxville to take on the Tennessee Volunteers this week. Tennessee is coming off of a win against Tennessee Tech that ended a three-game losing streak.
During the Vols’ three-game losing streak, they gave up over 150 yards on the ground in each game. They gave up an average of over 300 yards rushing in each of those games as well. Williams is no doubt one of the best backs that Tennessee will see all year, and he has the potential to be the focal point of Kentucky’s offense this week in Knoxville.
Williams may be the turning point in this game — the Volunteers are 83rd in the nation in rush defense. Tennessee has also lost multiple players to injury on defense — most specifically the front seven — which will give Williams a chance to have a big game. If Kentucky’s offensive line can put together a decent performance, Williams could be able to rush the Wildcats to their first win over Tennessee since 2011.
Williams is the glue that holds the Wildcats’ offense together, and he will present an interesting matchup for a banged up Volunteer defense.
Edited by Adam Milliken
Featured image by Navin75
