Don't see his name mentioned often anymore but I always thought he was the first in a line of all SEC type backs. He is still carrying the rock for the Jacksonville Sharks of the IFL. Really thought he would stay in the league a few years.
Boom Williams
- Thread starter Grumpyolddawg
- Start date
He was a special commitment in June of ‘14, actually the first thread I remember Grumpy’s participation was discussing former Georgia commit, Boom Williams, and this new, monster UGA commit, Nick Chubb.
I was surprised he never took a snap in the NFL.
I was surprised he never took a snap in the NFL.
Yep, he's still playing arena football for the Jacksonville Sharks.
One of my favorite Cats. Inventor of L's Down as well.
One of my favorite Cats. Inventor of L's Down as well.
Looking at their box score for their last game. He didn't play, but maybe hes hurt. He posted this on June 3rd:
He seemed a little injury prone here and probably should've stayed one more year. But glad to see he's still playing. He was our first legit RB under stoops, the Benny&Boom season where each had 1k+ would've been fun if we could have thrown the ball with consistency
Having Boom took a lot of the sting of out missing on Harris.
When boom reversed field and scored against Florida was the first moment I thought UK was really heading in the right direction. He was literally as athletic as Florida and I had never seen that before. It was a moment
The run in the Florida game as a freshman was simply amazing. I knew then he would a great RB at UK.
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Unfortunately my memory of Boom Williams is dominated by his pouting and quitting the team then unquitting, then leaving early to go pro when he hadn't a snowball's chance in hell of making the NFL
He was only 18. We all made mistakes at that age. I know I made plenty.
I did not realize that. That is a great potential trivial question! For both UK and UL fans , lol .
Then he somehow gets ran down vs vandy after what should've been a breakaway td. I couldn't believe it
I remember the First play in the new CWS. Amazing moment!
Yep what I think of when booms name is brought up. How perfect was that on the first play of the game. 😁😁😁😁. I thought we were for sure cooking 😅
Almost as athletic as the play made against Florida by David Jones under Coach Brooks.
I’d nearly forgotten that one.
Reversed field two/three times, and dove down near the goal line, as I recall.
Kid was fast as hell. Played against him in high school. It wasn’t fair.. haha
For his career, Boom averaged 6.9 yards per carry.
That is 3rd all time in the history of the SEC.
History! Of the SEC!
More than Bo Jackson. More than Herschell Walker. More than Emmitt Smith.
https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/conferences/sec/leaders/rush-yds-per-att-player-career.html
That is 3rd all time in the history of the SEC.
History! Of the SEC!
More than Bo Jackson. More than Herschell Walker. More than Emmitt Smith.
https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/conferences/sec/leaders/rush-yds-per-att-player-career.html
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I thought Booms Dad was a riot, I guess some didn't. I spoke to him on several occasions at the game, he was easy to pick out of a crowd!
Met him in the lobby of the Hilton the evening before a game.
He seemed like a great fellow.
The William’s family tragically lost a daughter I think the season that Boom had some issues with the coaching staff.
Watched him a few times in HS. Exhibited the traits I saw in those games while at UK. Elusive speed but not elite breakaway speed (got caught several times in college). Average to poor pass blocker. Took a lot of hits in HS which I think did not help his injury issues at KY along with being a bit undersized for the SEC grind. Was a great get for KY at the time but the off field drama that came with him was an issue. That said, he should be in the conversation of players who were very important to the rebuild of KY Football.
Good running backs are a dime a dozen at the next level. If you aren't drafted and have that guaranteed contract, good luck....
Boom had talent and was a great college rb, but between the ears he was a lot to take. He was ushered out as Junior, pro teams won't put up with that crap unless you are very, very good.
Boom had talent and was a great college rb, but between the ears he was a lot to take. He was ushered out as Junior, pro teams won't put up with that crap unless you are very, very good.
Neither one of those guys could sniff Craig Yeasts game at the swamp. That kid had like 300 all purpose yards!
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The performance by Yeast that day was insane. He made the Gators look like junior high players.
Couch said he would look at Craig and Craig would give him a nod if he could beat his man , then Couch said as soon as he touches the ball outta the gun he would launch it and Yeast would run under it to the house.
It seemed like he went down with the least amount of contact but then again maybe I am comparing him to Benny and C Rod. 🤣
I believe Wandale Robinson is better than Craig Yeast. If he played 3 or 4 years at UK the would have broke all of Yeast rerods.
Boom really had some things that kept him from being that true star in the SEC & future NFL back
1. We weren't that good his first 2 years. The OL wasn't as dominant...he took a lot of hits...that kind of hurt his growth. Had the Big Blue Wall been at 2018-2021 levels....he would've set so many records. He only got 1 year with Gran in that style & split it with Benny.
2. He never learned really how to be a pass-catching or a return threat. With his size...you can't take those kind of hits or be a workhorse type back....as you see he got hurt at times. He could make plays, but it did limit when he could be effective. Now he could find holes and make big plays, but had he been able to get in space and catch the ball....he would've been our best playmaker we've ever had at Kentucky. Not to mention...imagine if he could've returned kicks. He could just get into space and make plays...but he needed to find ways to maximize it. I blame the coaching staff for not developing it....
3. His attitude wasn't the best. There were times he would "quit" during games and get frustrated. Now there were injuries, don't get me wrong....but he just didn't have his head on straight. A lot of that came from carrying a big load early on when our line didn't block as well and defenses were stacking the box.
I really think about the 2017 team.....just thinking about how Boom/Badet leaving early just changed the game for our team. No deep ball threat....no big home run threat from Boom. It really made our offense a lot more stagnant. If those 2 would've been back, that's easily a 9-10 win team. We would've had Boom, Benny, Badet, Juice, & Bowden.
1. We weren't that good his first 2 years. The OL wasn't as dominant...he took a lot of hits...that kind of hurt his growth. Had the Big Blue Wall been at 2018-2021 levels....he would've set so many records. He only got 1 year with Gran in that style & split it with Benny.
2. He never learned really how to be a pass-catching or a return threat. With his size...you can't take those kind of hits or be a workhorse type back....as you see he got hurt at times. He could make plays, but it did limit when he could be effective. Now he could find holes and make big plays, but had he been able to get in space and catch the ball....he would've been our best playmaker we've ever had at Kentucky. Not to mention...imagine if he could've returned kicks. He could just get into space and make plays...but he needed to find ways to maximize it. I blame the coaching staff for not developing it....
3. His attitude wasn't the best. There were times he would "quit" during games and get frustrated. Now there were injuries, don't get me wrong....but he just didn't have his head on straight. A lot of that came from carrying a big load early on when our line didn't block as well and defenses were stacking the box.
I really think about the 2017 team.....just thinking about how Boom/Badet leaving early just changed the game for our team. No deep ball threat....no big home run threat from Boom. It really made our offense a lot more stagnant. If those 2 would've been back, that's easily a 9-10 win team. We would've had Boom, Benny, Badet, Juice, & Bowden.
maybe my memory is failing me but I remember Boom as being a very good ko return man but he got his bell rung a few times then he quit returns or the coaches took him down from the job! Am I wrong?
Oh he showed some great flashes, but like you said he just got hit a few times and didn’t like it. He wasn’t built for it
We didn’t beat Florida until the 2018 Season. We’ve won 4 out of last 6 against Florida
And in ALL HONESTY....
We SHOULD HAVE beaten Florida in 2014, 2015, 2017 & 2019 had we not choked all games....and well....some BAD PENALTIES called and missed. But in all honesty, we were the better team 7 of the last 10 times we've played them.
The one I remember vividly is the helmet to helmet hit he took at LSU in 2014 that left him crumbled on the turf. I believe that's when they supposedly started flagging those types of hits but no flag was thrown, at least that's what I recall.
I remember it was against Mizzou or someone where he got popped and then apparently quit during the game? Maybe that was when he wasn't blocking and the coaches pulled him.
Come on man my comment was sarcasm. That Boom game at Florida was where we got hosed on the no call delay of game.
