Virginia Tech running back Marshawn Williams is keeping positive when talking about his return to the football field. If all goes according to plan, he thinks he will have a good shot at playing in Virginia Tech’s season opener against defending national champion Ohio State in a primetime Labor Day game.
“My knee is fine,” Williams said for a featured update on Virgina Tech’s athletics website. “I’m getting better, getting stronger. I’m able to run almost full speed. I would say I’m 80, 85 percent in my mind. I don’t know what they’d [the sports medicine staff] say. But I should be ready, hopefully.”
Williams saw his 2014 season brought to a quick end when he tore his ACL last November. It used to be an injury that could keep a running back out for a full year, but Williams thinks he may be on track to return after just about nine months. It is amazing how far the technology and advanced medical treatment has come, but Williams knows there is some hard work ahead of still.
“I’m doing everything – speed package [a series of conditioning drills], 110s [110-yard sprints],” he said. “I’m doing everything trying to get ready.”
As a freshman, Wiliams finished the 2014 season as Virginia Tech’s second-leading rusher behind J.C. Coleman. Williams was the leading rusher for the Hokies at the time of his injury. Williams rushed for 475 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 3.83 yards per rushing attempt.
“I have no pain, honestly. Nothing major. With this surgery, you have your ups and your downs, but my downs are not as bad as they used to be. It’s getting better.”
That has to be good news for Virginia Tech fans to read.