Provo • Suddenly, BYU may have an embarrassment of riches at running back this season.
On Sunday, South Carolina running back Ty’Son Williams announced on Twitter that he will play his final season of eligibility at BYU. Williams will graduate from the Southeastern Conference school next month and will be immediately eligible at BYU as a graduate-transfer.
“I want to thank all the coaches and programs who reached out to give me an opportunity to continue my education for my last year. With that being said I will continue my last year of eligibility at Brigham Young University,” Williams wrote on Twitter Sunday afternoon.
Williams had narrowed his choices to Florida State, Western Kentucky, Marshall and BYU before choosing the Cougars. He was recruited to BYU by running backs coach AJ Steward and made an official visit to the Provo campus last month with his parents.
Two weeks ago, BYU announced the signing of another fifth-year graduate transfer, Rice running back Emmanuel Esukpa. Williams and Esukpa are expected to push returning starter Lopini Katoa, a sophomore, for the top running back spot in 2019.
The Cougars will also have walk-on redshirt freshmen Tyler Allgeier, redshirt freshman Sione Finau and oft-injured senior Kavika Fonua in the running backs room.
Williams was a four-star recruit in 2015 and played a year at North Carolina before transferring to South Carolina. He rushed for 471 yards as a sophomore and 328 yards this past season as a redshirt junior. Injuries have plagued a once-promising career.
BYU opens the season on Aug. 29, hosting the University of Utah.
