Four-star RB Aneyas Williams commits to Notre Dame's 2024 class

When four-star running back Aneyas Williams named his top 10 schools last month, it was easy to understand why Rivals ranked him as the No. 1 all-purpose back in the 2024 class.

The list included big-time programs across the South and Midwest: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State and Tennessee.

But even as Williams released that list on Nov. 14, the junior from Hannibal (Mo.) High knew one school stood above the rest in his mind. He made that clear Friday night when he announced his commitment to Notre Dame.

“After they knocked off No. 4 Clemson (on Nov. 5), I was at that game and we stormed the field,” Williams told Rivals national recruiting analyst Clint Cosgrove. “It was a night to remember. I felt the time was right since then.

“I talked to the coaches then, and then we finally got a commitment date ready. But I’ve been ready to commit since then.”

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The strong feelings for Notre Dame weren’t new to Williams. He first started to understand what the school and program meant on his first unofficial visit in April. When he returned to Notre Dame for its Irish Invasion camp in early June, he received a scholarship offer from running backs coach Deland McCullough after working with him throughout the camp.

A trio of Notre Dame recruits — quarterback CJ Carr, tight end Jack Larsen and wide receiver Cam Williams — who later became 2024 Irish commits also attended the camp. They started to recruit Aneyas Williams to join him soon after joining the class themselves.

The 5-foot-10, 195-pound Williams continued to camp at several schools throughout June and seemingly left every one of them with an offer. He returned to Notre Dame for another unofficial visit in July, then scheduled game visits to Ohio State and Missouri. By the time he attended Notre Dame’s 35-14 victory over Clemson, he felt like he’d seen enough of the other schools to make a decision.

“For me, every recruit knows when you have that feeling, that’s the one. Don’t doubt it,” Williams told Cosgrove. “I had that feeling the first time, and I was like, ‘Uh-oh.’ I went back and had it again. Therefore and therefore, it just kept happening. I didn’t even question it.”

McCullough helped facilitate that feeling. Williams, who has visited Notre Dame five times in the last nine months, called his connection with McCullough a rare one that he didn’t have with other coaches recruiting him.

“It was from the first day,” Williams told Cosgrove. “It’s almost been a year now, and it’s getting better. I thought there’s no questioning how he feels about me and how I feel about him.”

Williams gave McCullough plenty of reasons to feel strongly about him. Following a sophomore season in which Williams totaled 2,298 yards (1,297 receiving and 1,001 rushing) and 44 touchdowns (24 receiving, 20 rushing) on offense, Williams remained prolific as a junior. In nine games, Williams rushed for 1,362 yards and 27 touchdowns and caught 33 passes for 424 yards and seven touchdowns. His junior season was cut short by a broken collarbone.

Rivals ranks Williams as the No. 106 overall prospect in the 2024 class.

“He’s dynamic,” Cosgrove said. “He has speed. He can run between the tackles. He can make you miss in space. He’s put on some weight. He’s not that tall, long running back. He runs underneath his pads.

"His short-area quickness and explosiveness is huge. He can make you miss in space, but he can run you over too. If he gets a seam, he’s a home run threat because of his speed. He sees the field very well.

"He catches the ball well out of the backfield. You can line him up at the slot, create mismatches. You can line him up at the slot, then bring him back into the backfield.

“He just brings so much to the equation. I wouldn’t be surprised if he was a return guy. He’s probably a faster version of Kyren Williams.”

The addition of Aneyas Williams puts Notre Dame back at the top of Rivals’ 2024 team rankings. The Irish dropped down to No. 4 after losing the verbal commitment of four-star defensive end Brandon Davis-Swain on Sunday. The Irish now have seven 2024 commitments with six of them rated as four-star recruits.

Williams plans to help add to that class immediately.

“We’re going to get this ‘24 class, it’s good now, but it’s only going to get better,” Williams told Cosgrove. “I’m going to recruit the heck out of our area. I’m going to get some big-time guys. Like (five-star wide receiver Ryan) Wingo, we’re coming for you. I know he’s ready for that. I hope he is.

“Along with him and everybody else, we’re going to get that place booming.”

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