photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas running back Leshon Williams (4) breaks away on a touchdown run during the fourth quarter against West Virginia on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025 at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium.

Time was ticking down in the fourth quarter, Kansas running back Leshon Williams wanted to get out of Saturday night’s game, and it became clear to him that the shortest path to the sideline was through the end zone.

“You want to know what was really going through my head … I’m going to tell y’all the truth,” he said. “It was about the fourth quarter. I’m like, ‘We got to finish, and it’s time for me to get out of the game.’ So I’m like, ‘All right, this is my chance. The only way I can get out of the game fast is if I go score.'”

Fortunately for the sixth-year senior, an opportunity presented itself quite quickly off the left edge, around a block by tight end Carson Bruhn. Williams shook off Reid Carrico, slipped away from Jordan Scruggs, cut past Jimmori Robinson and escaped a converging Robinson and Israel Boyce.

He turned on the afterburners to reach the 15-yard line, and receiver Bryson Canty gave him an assist by bumping into a resurgent Carrico, removing the final obstacle to his 62-yard touchdown.

“I got to give credit to the offensive line, they made a hole for me, and then you see our receivers block hard down the field, and Bryson saved me at the end, so I got in the end zone,” Williams said, by way of summation.

It was Williams’ 19th and final carry of the night, his highest quantity since Nov. 4, 2023, and an unusually high workload for a player who usually splits time with Daniel Hishaw Jr. But Hishaw, who had been listed on KU’s availability reports as probable earlier in the week, had to exit the game due to injury after just two carries for nine yards. Head coach Lance Leipold said Hishaw practiced on Wednesday and Thursday, “wanted to give it a go and tried and wasn’t able to.”

Williams wound up with 129 yards, a stark contrast to KU’s previous game, in which he and Hishaw had combined for 11. Williams also caught a touchdown from quarterback Jalon Daniels on a wheel route for good measure.

“To be able to see him grab a touchdown and also be able to run (for) a touchdown, those are things that you love to see out of your running back,” Daniels said, “because it shows the versatility that our running back room has.”

Leipold said Williams knew it was a game in which he might have to step up.

“I really thought he did,” Leipold added.

Williams said he didn’t necessarily change his mindset all that much — during the week because “you should always practice like you’re going to be that guy,” and even during the game itself after Hishaw’s departure.

“I feel like when the opportunity comes, you got to be ready,” Williams said.

It wasn’t always smooth sailing for the Chicago native on Saturday night, but he improved his yards-per-carry average from 3.7 to 6.8 with one momentous run (which also put the game even further out of reach, at the eventual final score of 41-10).

“He runs physical, and he does such a good job, he’s a good one-cut guy as well, but that (run) was impressive,” Leipold said.

He told Williams afterward, “I didn’t know you were that fast, to outrun everybody on that one.” Williams relayed his response: “I hope you know I can now.”

Kansas running back Leshon Williams (4) leaves West Virginia in the dust as he runs in a touchdown during the fourth quarter on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025 at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium.