Marshawn Williams: A Future Starting Running Back

Nov 9, 2013; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies quarterback Logan Thomas (3) hands the ball off to Virginia Tech Hokies running back Trey Edmunds (14) who runs for a touchdown in the fourth quarter at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports

Marshawn Williams was one of four players from the Class of 2014 to enroll early at Virginia Tech so that he could be involved in Spring Practice. Williams decided to enrollearly with the hope that he could have a strong spring and not only avoid being redshirted in the fall but also gain some decent playing time. Of course, expectations for Williams from fans were very low if there were any based on how he was just a 3-star recruit but Williams made a statement this past spring.

Marshawn Williams had a very strong spring and was honored by the Virginia Tech coaching staff with the Paul Torgersen Award for the top up and comer on the offensive side of the ball. Marshawn Williams’s best game of the spring came in the second spring scrimmage when he ran for 66 yards and had gained this compliment from Frank Beamer via Jimmy Robertson of hokiesports.com.

"“He plants that foot and goes,” Beamer said. “That zone read play is very natural to him. He feels an opening and hits it. You don’t teach that a lot. I was impressed with him.”"

Outside of that, Marshawn Williams would not have much success in the spring, largely due to the very talented Virginia Tech defensive line and the struggles that the Virginia Tech offensive line had sometimes. Williams did show that his 5-11, 224 pound frame is built to be a load-carrying running back which is something the Hokies lack on the roster outside of Trey Edmunds.

Marshawn Williams has proven this spring that he is willing to go in between the tackles and fight for those tough yards. On top of not only being a tough runner, Williams also has shown some strength and can be a guy that definitely projects to be more of a power runner than a speed back. Williams also has shown some decent speed and the ability to get a good first step into the holes created by the offensive line. Williams has a lot of work to do still but he definitely has the potential to be a really good player in the long run.

Marshawn Williams is currently third on the Hokies’ depth chart though he would be fourth if it wasn’t for the fact that Trey Edmunds is injured and not at the number 1 spot like he will certainy be by the start of the season. J.C. Coleman seems likely to be the backup for Edmunds but Williams has a chance to not only be the number three running back but also push Coleman some. Marshawn Williams has the talent to not only get some playing time this fall as a true freshman but also be a starter for the Hokies in the near future.

Follow us on Twitter @GobblerFighting and sign up for our newsletter for the latest news and analysis on the Hokies.