Freshman Ohio State defensive back Kourt Williams has reportedly been lost for the season.
According to a report from Lettermen Row, Williams suffered an ACL injury that will require surgery, effectively ending all the pomp and circumstance he’s garnered in preseason camp so far.
Williams came to Ohio State as a hybrid linebacker/defensive back out of the same St. John Bosco High School in southern California as current Buckeye right guard Wyatt Davis. He was a high four-star recruit but has shown a versatile skill set that had him potentially carving out a spot in the secondary as early as this fall.
BREAKING: Ohio State defensive back Kourt Williams suffered an ACL injury in training camp, and he is expected to miss his highly anticipated freshman season. Few newcomers had been generating the buzz that Williams had so far with the Buckeyes. https://t.co/hyuJfHTO9C
— Austin Ward (@AWardSports) October 17, 2020
The coaching staff — including Ryan Day — have singled out Williams as an ideal candidate to take on the “bullet role,” one that takes advantage of a guy that is physical in run support, but also adept at covering in space. It’s a role that hasn’t garnered much traction so far because a one-high safety attack preferred because of OSU’s personnel, but that looked to be a potential shift in some situations with Williams’ ability.
All of that promise though will seemingly have to wait now.