FOOTBALL: Williamson steps up after injury to counterpart

Jack Milas hands off the ball to Teddy Williamson during the game against Akron on Oct. 25. DN PHOTO SAMANTHA BLANKENSHIP
Jack Milas hands off the ball to Teddy Williamson during the game against Akron on Oct. 25. DN PHOTO SAMANTHA BLANKENSHIP

Small in stature but quick with his feet, Ball State running back Teddy Williamson has tried to make an impact while Horactio Banks misses time.

Williamson has spent most of the season as the No. 3 running back on the depth chart behind Banks and starter Jahwan Edwards. But after Banks suffered a hamstring injury leading up to the game against Central Michigan, Williamson has seen his role increase.

Against Akron, he sliced past the Zips punt protection and blocked the kick, setting up a Ball State touchdown four plays later.

He also received six carries in the game, relieving Edwards and seeing playing time late in the contest. He finished with negative one yard, which running backs coach Justin Lustig said is a poor indicator of Williamson’s performance.

“If you look at those six touches, four or five of them came at the end of the game when Akron knew we were running,” Lustig said. “I have all the trust in the world to put him in for Edwards.”

Being a third string player, Williamson normally receives less playing time than his counterparts when they’re both healthy. He’s had just 15 carries this season; the most he had in a single game was the season opener against Colgate when he carried the ball seven times for 32 yards.

Despite not seeing the ball as much as a starter, he stays alert during games and in practice, knowing there’s a chance his number could be called at any moment if a player becomes injured. The situation with Banks being a prime example.

“It’s something we work on in practice, having the ‘next man up,’ mentality,” Williamson said. “I have to be ready to step up if a play goes down, that’s my mentality.”

If Williamson enters the game, he’s bringing a different style of running than Edwards and Banks.

He’s just 5-foot-9 and 187 pounds, a far cry from Edwards’ 219 pounds, meaning there’s no mistaking one for another on the football field.

When running against Akron, Williamson was quickly engulfed by the opposing defensive line and linebackers. Not sharing Edwards’ size means he can’t shrug off tacklers and power his way into the end zone.

“I realize I have to stay behind my blocks and wait for things to set up a little bit more,” Williamson said. “I can’t just try to run through everybody. When I see the hole, I have to use my speed to explode through it.”

With Banks’ status for the upcoming home game against Northern Illinois in doubt, Lustig said he expects Williamson to continue getting increased playing time. Not only does it provide a change of pace from Edwards’ power running, but it gives Ball State’s workhorse a chance to rest his body, which takes a beating every game.

“We talk about being smart, reliable and tough,” Lustig said. “He fits all three of those, so we have to find a way to get him playing time.”

If he keeps blocking punts, more playing time is hardly in doubt.

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