Gatorade names Notre Dame RB signee Aneyas Williams Missouri Football Player of the Year
On Wednesday, Aneyas Williams added another accolade to his résumé before he arrives in South Bend later this month. Gatorade named the Notre Dame 2024 running back signee as its Missouri Football Player of the Year.
The 5-foot-9½, 200-pounder from Hannibal (Mo.) High is one of two Fighting Irish recruits in their respective state to win the award. 2024 class preferred walk-on quarterback Anthony Rezac took home the honor in Nebraska. Rezac is the twin brother of linebacker signee Teddy Rezac.
Williams follows Irish freshman running back Jeremiyah Love by claiming the trophy in Missuori. The 5-11⅞, 197-pound Love won the Gatorade Player of the Year in 2022. He achieved it after a terrific senior season at St. Louis Christian Brothers … only to be outdone by Williams.
In 13 games for the Hannibal Pirates, Williams registered over 2,200 yards from scrimmage. He had 168 carries for 1,415 yards (8.4 yards per carry) and 27 touchdowns on the ground. Williams added 44 catches for 816 yards (18.5 yards per catch) and 17 scores.
Williams was also an effective returner. He returned 4 punts for 145 yards and 2 touchdowns. He record 77 yards on three kick returns. On defense, Williams had 21 tackles and two interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown.
Hannibal High finished the 2023 season 11-2 with a loss in the quarterfinal round of the Missouri Class 4 playoffs.
The On3 Industry Ranking — a proprietary algorithm that compiles ratings and rankings from all four primary recruiting media services — considers Williams the No. 276 overall player, No. 21 running back nationally and No. 7 prospect in Missouri.
In addition to his outstanding on-field success, Williams also shines off the field. According to Gatorade’s press release, he has volunteered locally on area beautification projects and as a youth football coach and referee. Williams also maintained a weighted 3.76 GPA.
He will officially enroll at Notre Dame later this month.
About the Gatorade Player of the Year award
The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction high school football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, and boys and girls track & field, and awards one National Player of the Year in each sport. The selection process is administered by the Gatorade Player of the Year Selection Committee, which leverages experts including coaches, scouts, media and others as sources to help evaluate and determine the state winners in each sport.
Williams joins recent Gatorade Missouri Football Players of the Year Love (2022-23, Christian Brothers College High School), Kevin Coleman (2021-22, St. Mary’s High School), Mekhi Wingo (2020-21, De Smet Jesuit High School), and Isaiah Davis (2019-20, Joplin High School), among the state’s list of former award winners.
As part of Gatorade’s commitment to breaking down barriers in sport, every Player of the Year also receives a grant to donate to a social impact partner. To date, Gatorade Player of the Year winners’ grants have totaled more than $4.9 million across more than 1,600 organizations.
