photo by: Jerry Larson/Waco Tribune Herald via AP

Kansas running back Pooka Williams Jr. (1) breaks away from Baylor for a 72-yard run during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 22, 2018, in Waco, Texas.

Officially, freshman Kansas football players — even redshirt freshmen in their second season with the program — aren’t allowed to be interviewed by the media.

So, unofficially (I guess?), here’s your first interview with KU freshman running back Pooka Williams.

ESPN’s Holly Rowe, in Lawrence to help KU student-athletes with some media training, posted a video of her back-and-forth with KU’s star freshman to Twitter on Tuesday night.

Sporting a black Chicago White Sox cap and a gray KU hooded sweatshirt, the Big 12’s leading rusher contentedly revealed a little about himself and his game to Rowe.

Anthony Williams Jr. by birth, he said his nickname “Pooka” came from his grandmother calling him that at a young age.

Already a game-changing talent for KU three games into his college career, Williams, a 5-foot-10, 170-pound four-star signee from Louisiana, leads the team with three touchdowns and 377 rushing yards. But he downplayed having a “special” start to his season.

“I’m just playing the course. My O-line’s giving me holes and that’s how it is,” Williams said, claiming he didn’t know where he gets his quickness from. “That’s a good question.”

Asked if he remembered when he first figured out he was fast, the former Hahnville High star replied while laughing, “I won a lot of races, so I wouldn’t really know.”

Still adapting to playing at the FBS level, Williams said “the crowd” is what he likes best about this stage.

“The coaches, too,” the running back quickly added. “I really found out all the steps about football. Not just playing football just to play football. I found all the steps out, the film room and all of that. In high school we didn’t do film and stuff like that.”

KU football hasn’t won more than three games in a season since 2009, but with Williams’ help, the Jayhawks are off to a 2-2 start in 2018.

“The new juice is we’ve got to really restore Kansas,” Williams said. “And that’s what we practice for every day. Just trying to get wins now. We’ve got the talent on the team.”

We’ll be sure to ask Pooka Williams more about his upbringing, transition to college football and spectacular start to his KU career when he’s made available for interviews in the spring.

What the heck is Pooka Magic? Everywhere I went this week in Lawrence, KS folks are talking about it. I had to find out what is happening! @laapookaaa @KU_Football pic.twitter.com/DjIQt4wIzl

— Holly Rowe (@sportsiren) September 26, 2018