X Williams

Burgers

Sophomore
Jul 22, 2025
63
162
33
I’m hopeful he can still breakout but it just hasn’t been clicking for him so far.

Phillips has not been healthy all year. High ankle sprain in week 1 has zapped his burst / agility. Similar to Kaleb Johnson’s sophomore year. He looked so good as a freshman, then had a disappointing sophomore year, and then was obviously a beast in his junior year.

It’s a frustrating injury, because they can still play, but they are much less effective. And I think he is still on a limited snap count and is not in a position to be the bell cow.
 
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LIV4GOD

All-Conference
Oct 2, 2001
733
1,664
93
X. is thick and difficult to bring down but dang he is slow. Wish we could see a full game with Brevin Doll as RB1 🤷🏼‍♂️
Yeah, Greene was thick, too. And getting dirty yards is ultra important, and is something Javkson can't currently do.

X is not slow. Did you see him overtake Diaz while both were at a dead sprint? Have you seen him caught from behind on his long TD runs? No.

I think he has the most explosive first three steps of any of the RBs, whether lateral or forward.

But I also would love to see what Brevin can do. He's the fastest of them all.
 
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uihawk82

All-American
Nov 17, 2021
3,448
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Yea. This. His fumbles weren’t on first contact if I remember correctly. It was the second and third attempts when he didn’t wrap up after first contact.
correct, he is getting all stretched out trying to get extra yards and he loses his ball protection. A lot of runners have this happen when the back tip of the ball and their elbow moves away from their body giving an opening for the punchout.

Otherwise, he seems to have the ball tucked away well.
 

uihawk82

All-American
Nov 17, 2021
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It doesnt matter who starts as much as if one gets the hot hand and makes the best reads and cuts and they will get the most carries. X can run with run arm on the ball until he is getting tackled and the needs to cover up.

It is not correct to say he should always run with two hands and arms on the ball because that slows you down and makes your balance and cuts harder to do. They should run their regular form until they are getting wrapped up.
 

yrunvs

Senior
Feb 18, 2012
281
487
63
It doesn't matter how good a running back is if he can't hold onto the ball. I suspect if X fumbles vs NW.....He Gone.
 

UIAlumFireFighter

All-Conference
Sep 26, 2018
1,543
2,291
113
X is not slow. Did you see him overtake Diaz while both were at a dead sprint? Have you seen him caught from behind on his long TD runs? No.

I think he has the most explosive first three steps of any of the RBs, whether lateral or forward.

But I also would love to see what Brevin can do. He's the fastest of them all.
He has some open-field speed as we’ve seen a time or two.

In bold: I couldn’t disagree more.
 

uihawk82

All-American
Nov 17, 2021
3,448
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113
If LJ is healthy, I want him and Jackson in the backfield. Williams and his turnover issues need some pine time.
Other people have said these are X's first fumbles as a hawk and LJ and Jackson both fumbled at Minny, so they all need to tucked it in better, especially after first contact
 

uihawk82

All-American
Nov 17, 2021
3,448
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After seeing the success of Flora at ISU, I wouldn't mind it if Brevin Doll got some carries. They shared the backfield for Adel and were monsters. Doll is supposedly the better back of the two.
Doll has been injured some this year it is reported
 
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