‘First one feels good’: Hannibal’s Williams scores touchdown during Notre Dame’s spring game

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Aneyas Williams’ smile said it all.

The Hannibal product’s first touchdown run in front of a crowd in Notre Dame Stadium felt as electric as it looked.

“First one feels good,” Williams said in a brief interview on the sideline posted on the University of Notre Dame football team’s social media accounts following a 7-yard touchdown run in the first half of Saturday’s Blue-Gold Game. “First one in this stadium feels great.”

A record-setting running back who graduated from Hannibal High School in December to enroll early at Notre Dame and take part in spring practice, Williams rushed for 39 yards in the Blue team’s 28-21 victory.

Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman told media outlets after the game Williams has made strides throughout the spring, specifically in areas other than running the football.

“Aneyas played well. He played really well,” Freeman said. “We didn’t have a whole bunch of live periods throughout the spring, so for Aneyas to go out there and make some big plays — I think the thing for me is what prevents running backs from playing at a young age is protection. Pass protection. It’s not being able to run with the football. That’s why we recruited him. We know they can run with the football. Being able to trust them in pass protection, he’s grown tremendously there.”