Texas will salute Ricky Williams’ 1998 Heisman Trophy campaign on Saturday
With former star running back and Heisman Trophy winner Ricky Williams on hand No. 7 Texas won’t have to look far or hard for inspiration and motivation when it plays No. 25 Kansas State on Saturday in a key Big 12 Conference matchup at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.
[Get 50 PERCENT off an Inside Texas annual subscription!]
During a break in the action on Saturday the Longhorns will salute the 25th anniversary of Williams’ epic Heisman Trophy-winning season in 1998. That campaign was also when he broke the all-time career NCAA rushing record, specifically with a 60-yard touchdown run late in the first quarter against Texas A&M.
The Longhorns’ current rushing leader, sophomore Jonathon Brooks, said Monday that Williams set a good example for the Texas running backs that followed him. Brooks has amassed 923 yards and seven touchdowns and 212 yards and another score receiving in eight games this season
“Williams was a really good ballplayer,” Brooks said. “He did a lot of really good things. And I think it’s pretty cool that they’re honoring him this weekend.”
Williams’ career total of 6,279 yards still ranks third in the record books, behind Donnel Pumphrey of San Diego State (6,405 yards) and Ron Dayne of Wisconsin (6,397). Williams is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame as inducted in 2015.
Williams produced one of the finest seasons on NCAA record in 1998, racking up 2,124 yards (No. 5 on the NCAA’s all-time chart and now 14th) and 27 TDs (No. 4 on the NCAA’s all-time list and now tied for 14th).
That year Williams also became the first-ever two-time winner of the Doak Walker Award (nation’s outstanding running back) and claimed the Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Foundation Player of the Year, the Associated Press Player of the Year, The Sporting News Player of the Year and the Football News Offensive Player of the Year.
With his second consecutive unanimous first-team All-America honor in 1998, Williams became the first Longhorns’ player since Jerry Gray (1983-84) to earn unanimous first-team All-America recognition in consecutive seasons.
Texas officially retired Williams’ No. 34 jersey in a pregame ceremony prior to the Oklahoma State game on Sept. 30, 2000. The field at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium was renamed Campbell-Williams Field in September 2021 to recognize Williams and Earl Campbell, the school’s two Heisman winners.
