Iowa running back Gavin Williams to enter transfer portal

Williams becomes fifth Hawkeye to announce plans to enter transfer portal since end of regular season

Dec. 2, 2022 2:39 pm

Iowa running back Gavin Williams (25) is brought down by a trio of Badgers during a game between the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Wisconsin Badgers at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Iowa running back Gavin Williams plans to enter the transfer portal, he said in a tweet Friday afternoon.

“To my teammates, coaches and training staff, thank you for all of our support throughout my time at Iowa,” Williams said in the tweet. “The connections I’ve made during my time here will truly last a lifetime.”

Twitter

Williams began the season as Iowa’s No. 1 running back, but injury problems and the rise of true freshman Kaleb Johnson at his position limited Williams’ productivity.

He had 43 carries for 138 yards while averaging 3.2 yards per carry in 2022 — a significant drop-off from 65 carries for 305 yards and 4.7 yards per carry last year.

He was essentially Iowa’s third running back by the midpoint of the season behind Kaleb Johnson and Leshon Williams. Jaziun Patterson, a true freshman, could potentially take that third spot.

Arlen Harris Jr., a running back in the transfer portal from Stanford, said earlier in the week on Twitter he will be visiting Iowa this weekend.

Gavin Williams will have two years of eligibility at his new home. He joins wide receivers Keagan Johnson and Arland Bruce IV, quarterback Alex Padilla and offensive lineman Josh Volk as the fifth offensive player from Iowa to enter the portal since the end of the 2022 regular season.

Comments: john.steppe@thegazette.com