Indiana needs EJ Williams to step up, 'be a playmaker' in final season: 'EJ has a lot of talent to make plays'

From a former top-100 recruit out of high school to his sixth season of college football — and two stints in the transfer portal in between — EJ Williams hasn’t had a streamlined career at the college level. But as he enters his final year, he has the chance to flip the script on how his career has gone, and leave his mark on an Indiana program that is leaning on him in 2025.

Williams returns to Indiana after a shaky first season under Curt Cignetti and the new staff. He appeared in just four games, finishing with two receptions for 49 yards. Then, he announced mid year that he would be entering his name in the transfer portal.

After a very open dialogue between he and Cignetti in December led to a reunion for his final season of eligibility, there was an understanding that he could help Indiana and Indiana could also help him.

But, it was also clear what was needed for both to come true — his health. Williams has missed time in each of his two seasons at Indiana with different injuries, and even dating back to his time at Clemson. There’s never been a doubt that he can be productive or add talent to the field, it was the uncertainty around his availability that held him back.

“The focal point for me is to stay healthy, stay in the training room and be able to prehab,” Williams said this spring. “Then, just hone in on learning concepts instead of just one position, learning the defense so you can think clearly while you are out there running routes, and just make everything polished at the top of routes and releases. And hone in on blocking in the run game, too.”

After missing time in 2023 with injuries, EJ Williams finished that season playing some of the best football of his career, a sign that there was still that high-level talent that had been seen in flashes over the last few seasons. In the final four games of 2023 he had 247 yards on 20 receptions.

When Williams decided to return to Bloomington, he was coming back to a wide receiver room that had lost Myles Price, Miles Cross and Ke’Shawn Williams to graduation. That trio combined for 104 receptions, 1,238 yards and 12 touchdowns. Then, Michigan transfer Tyler Morris tore his ACL which created even more of a potential role for Williams.

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While the Hoosiers added Makai Jackson and Jonathan Brady through the portal this offseason, and brought in freshman Lebron Bond who has been a standout since arriving in the spring, the experience of EJ Williams is something that can’t be replicated. And, neither can the talent.

“The mindset never changes for me,” Williams said in the spring. “When I’m available on the field, I always play fast, go 100%, be the person that I know it could be. I’m always in a good head space with things like that. So, because it’s always something I’ve battled my whole career, really, up until like, my sophomore year at Clemson. So I just really just try to focus in on having a clear head. Always be in that attack mindset, be determined, just know when the time comes, do what you’re supposed to do.”

For his career, Williams has 772 yards on 65 receptions. His only two touchdowns came during his freshman season — which still remains his best statistical season up to this point.

So in his final ride, it’s about putting it all together — something he’s showing more and more ahead of Indiana’s 2025 season.

“EJ has a lot of talent to make plays,” Cignetti said on Monday during the final week of fall camp. “Matter of keeping him on the field. Got off to a little bit of a slow start in camp but I’ve really seen him pick it up since practice four or five, (he’s) become a lot more consistent. He can be a playmaker, and we’re going to need him to be a playmaker.”

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