2024 SEASON (FRESHMAN)

Emerged as a potential standout at running back following a stellar performance in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl … appeared in 10 games as a true freshman, making one start, which came versus Arkansas in the bowl game … joined with fellow true freshman Cameron Dickey as backups to Tahj Brooks throughout the season.
Likely was destined to redshirt early in the season until a season-ending injury to Cam’Ron Valdez … member of the scout team the first few weeks of the season … in fact, tabbed the offensive scout team player of the week following Texas Tech’s season-opening win over Abilene Christian (8/31).
Finished with 236 rushing yards and two touchdowns on the season off 41 carries, which ranked second on the team slightly ahead of Dickey … bulk of his yardage and carries came in the bowl game, however … made at least one rush attempt in eight of his 10 games played … contributed via the passing game in one of the two games without a rushing attempt.
Threat in the passing game and as a returner, catching 10 passes for 100 yards and a touchdown, while returning 12 kicks for 296 yards (24.7 average) … was fifth on the team with 63.2 all-purpose yards per game and fifth overall with 632 all-purpose yards on the season.
Served as Texas Tech’s primary kick returner late in Big 12 play following an injury to fellow speedster Drae McCray … boasted two kick returns of at least 40 yards with one of those pushing the Red Raiders past midfield at 50-plus yards.
Credited with 118 offensive snaps by Pro Football Focus and additional 45 on special teams (all on kick or punt returns) … received a 75.3 overall grade by PFF, which ranked sixth on the offense … did not allow a pressure as a pass blocker in his 12 opportunities on the season.
IN NCAA RANKINGS: ended the season tied for 20th in the FBS for kick return average (24.7), just behind Drae McCray (25.4) at No. 14 in the rankings … Texas Tech was the only FBS school with two returners ranked in the top 20 of the final national rankings … as a team, the Red Raiders shared the FBS lead with five combined kick returns (between McCray and Williams) that went at least 40 yards … the Red Raiders were also tied for sixth for kick returns of 30 or more yards (7) and second for 50-plus yard returns (2).
IN BIG 12 RANKINGS: was third in the league for kick return average behind only BYU’s Keelan Marion (26.2) and McCray (25.4) … was one of six returners in the league to have two or more kick returns of at least 40 yards … as a team, the Red Raiders led the league for kick returns of at least 30 yards (7), 40 yards (5) and shared the conference high for 50 or more yards (3).
North Texas (9/14): made his Red Raider debut with four carries for 27 yards and a touchdown in the win over the Mean Green … caught one pass for 10 yards in the rout as well … found the end zone for the first time in his career via a three-yard rushing touchdown with 4:06 remaining in the third quarter … the touchdown run pushed Texas Tech’s lead to 59-14 at the time.
Baylor (10/19): found the end zone via the air against the Bears as part of two catches for 22 yards and a touchdown … did not have a rushing attempt in the loss … connected with Behren Morton on an 18-yard reception with 6:31 remaining in regulation for his first career touchdown catch.
at TCU (10/26): saw an increased role offensively with eight carries for 42 yards against the Horned Frogs … inserted as Texas Tech’s primary kick returner for the first time with three returns for 62 yards … finished with 104 all-purpose yards, marking the first of three game on the season with 100-plus yards.
at Iowa State (11/2): contributed to the win over the ranked Cyclones via four kick returns for 85 yards with a long of 28 yards … added one carry for one yard and one reception for two yards.
Colorado (11/9): provided a spark in the return game versus the Buffaloes with both of his kick returns going at least 40 yards … finished with two returns for 103 yards to go along with four carries for 12 yards … returned the opening kick of the game 46 yards to set up a quick Texas Tech scoring drive that featured a Behren Morton to Jalin Conyers 17-yard touchdown pass only four plays later … set up another scoring opportunity for the Red Raiders just before halftime with a 57-yard attempt with only 19 seconds remaining … marked his longest return of the season.
at Oklahoma State (11/23): had only one return for 13 yards in the road win over the Cowboys to go along with two carries for four yards.
West Virginia (11/30): closed the regular season with five carries for 20 yards to go along with two receptions for 30 yards … called on for two kick returns for 33 yards in the win as well.
Arkansas (12/27): made his first career start in place of Tahj Brooks in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl, finishing with 123 yards and a touchdown off 15 carries, all season highs … added four catches for 36 yards as well, including one for a season-long 22 yards … became the first Red Raider to start at running back since Ta’Zhawn Henry did so midway through the 2018 season against TCU … his 123 rushing yards marked the most by a true freshman in his first career start since Justin Stockton ran for 135 yards versus UTEP in 2014 … scored the Red Raiders’ opening touchdown on a 54-yard touchdown run - his longest of the season - with 11:15 remaining in the second quarter … averaged 8.2 yards per carry as he and Dickey combined for 199 rushing yards on 30 combined carries.
AWARDS AND HONORS: recognized as the Offensive Player of the Game (visiting team) for the AutoZone Liberty Bowl.

HIGH SCHOOL

Attended Beckville High School in Beckville, Texas, near the Texas-Louisiana state line … one of the state’s most dynamic rushers throughout high school career … during four-year run, Beckville won 42 games — a four-year best at any stretch for a school that started playing football back in 1931 … success included helping the Bearcats to three-straight district titles with all of them coming in undefeated fashion, a first for Beckville.
Set the school rushing mark with 6,401 yards and 98 touchdowns … averaged an impressive 12.5 yards per carry on the ground … primarily split time at running back and as a slot receiver but did play behind center at quarterback during part of his senior year … threw for 1,348 yards, 17 touchdowns and six interceptions during his career behind center … on special teams, returned five punts and two kickoffs for a touchdown in his career.
Combined for 3,116 total yards and 49 touchdowns his senior season alone … helped push the Bearcats to a 10-2 record and a District 10-2A title following an undefeated 6-0 run through the district slate … helped push Beckville to the Class 2A Division I area round that same season.
Single-handedly kept Beckville in its area round game running for a career-high and school record 303 yards on a career-high 28 carries … scored all four touchdowns in a 42-28 loss to Garrison, which included touchdown runs of 72, 56 and 52 yards.
Finished his senior season with 1,901 rushing yards, which ranked second all-time in school history … his 32 rushing touchdowns set a program record, breaking the previous mark by former teammate Ryan Harris, who rushed for 31 in 2020.
Voted the unanimous District 10-2A MVP following both his junior and senior seasons … tabbed one of 25 semifinalists for the Mr. Texas Football award by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football … named the Built Ford Tough 2A Player of the Week following six touchdowns, in four different ways, in the Bearcats’ 69-14 victory over Big Sandy … recognized as a second-team All-State honoree by Padilla Poll and an honorable mention selection as a quarterback by the Texas Sports Writers Association (TSWA) his senior season.
Garnered first team All-State accolades by the TSWA following his 2022 junior season … registered 2,408 all-purpose yards and 39 touchdowns as a junior … also tabbed to the first ever THSCA Super Elite Team following junior season.
A TSWA Class 2A second team All-State kick returner and an honorable mention All-State pick at running back his sophomore season … credited in helping lift the program to a 10-4 record his freshman season, its best record in two decades.
Three-sport athlete for Beckville, starring in both basketball and track and field in addition to football … twice named to the Class 2A All-Region team on the hardwood … three-time state champion in the 110-meter hurdles during high school career at the Class 2A level … set a new personal record to complete the three-peat, clocking in at 14.19 to win the gold medal as a senior … previously posted a 14.41 time to win the state title as a sophomore before being clocked at 14.26 as a junior.
Five-time state champion overall, also winning gold in the 300-meter hurdles as a sophomore in 2022 and in the triple jump as a junior in 2023 … set a personal record in the 300-meter hurdles, finishing at 39.21 to sweep the hurdle events as a sophomore … measured at 45’ 11.75 in the triple jump to win the Class 2A ranks his junior year … placed third at the state meet three other times during his career – in the 4x200 relay as a sophomore, in the 300-meter hurdles as a junior and in the 4x200 relay as a senior … qualified for the state meet in both the long jump and the 4x400 meter relay as only a freshman in 2021, finishing fifth overall in both events.
Tabbed a four-star prospect by On3, ranking 27th nationally among running backs and at No. 55 among prospects from the state of Texas … considered a three-star recruit by Rivals, ESPN and 247Sports … CHOSE TEXAS TECH OVER: Baylor, Houston, LSU, Michigan, SMU, TCU, Texas and UCF, among others.

PERSONAL

J’Koby Williams ... son of Dexter and Amber Prince ... has three siblings – an older brother, Jay, a younger brother, Jordan and a younger sister, Kenzie.
Related to former NFL linebacker, Demorrio Williams, who played in 138 games over a nine-year professional career with the Atlanta Falcons, Kansas City Chiefs and San Diego Chargers.
In the explore business program at Texas Tech.

J'Koby Williams