TEXAS BOWL: ARKANSAS VS. TEXAS

Jonathan Williams waits for NFL grade

Arkansas running back Jonathan Williams carries the ball during a game against Ole Miss on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014 at Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville.
Arkansas running back Jonathan Williams carries the ball during a game against Ole Miss on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014 at Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville.

FAYETTEVILLE -- Jonathan Williams has a difficult decision to make in the next month.

The top rusher for the Arkansas Razorbacks must decide if he'll return for his senior season or declare as an underclassman for the NFL Draft. He's in the process of having his draft status determined by the NFL's draft advisory board and faces a Jan. 15 deadline to apply.

Jonathan Williams glance

POSITION Tailback

HEIGHT/WEIGHT 6-0, 225

CLASS Junior

HIGH SCHOOL Allen (Texas) High

AGE 20 (Feb. 2, 1994)

NOTEWORTHY Ranks fourth in SEC rushing with 1,085 yards after rushing for 900 yards and 6.0 yards per carry as a sophomore. … Fourth in SEC in touchdowns scored with 13. … 21 career touchdowns, 15 rushing, 6 receiving. … Eight career 100-yard rushing games. Averaging 5.8 yards per carry, third among SEC qualifiers. Ranks fourth in the SEC and 44th nationally with 90.4 rushing yards per game. Voted second-team All-SEC by the Associated Press. Caught 2 touchdown passes of 70-plus yards vs. Kentucky as a true freshman.

Williams wasn't eager to discuss that looming choice after the Razorbacks' practice on Wednesday, saying he still needs to see his evaluation and discuss it with Coach Bret Bielema.

"I'm not really sure yet," Williams said when asked what he'll need to hear from the board to make his call. "Just waiting for the grade to come back, and honestly I'm waiting to talk to Coach B whenever he comes back from recruiting and off the road and everything comes back."

Williams' evaluation is likely to take three weeks or more.

Williams, who came up 100 yards short of 1,000 yards as a sophomore, is at 1,085 rushing yards this season to rank fourth in the SEC with a bowl game yet to play, and he did it while dealing with shoulder and knee issues.

William's three-year total of 2,216 rushing yards puts him at No. 11 on Arkansas' all-time list, 104 yards behind Oscar Malone.

"I think what Jonathan learned this year is the ability to work through injuries," offensive coordinator Jim Chaney said. "I mean, every kid is going to have one of those years where you just get beat up all the time and this was Jonathan's year. I'm just real proud of the fact that he didn't practice a lot, but showed up every game and gave us what he had.

"No matter what happens, if you go on and play at the next level and you get those opportunities, you've got to learn to play through that, and I think he learned to do that this year."

Williams dinged a shoulder in the season opener at Auburn. He carried only four times the following week against Nicholls State, but he took full advantage of those opportunities by running for 143 yards, including a 90-yard touchdown, and averaging 35.8 yards per carry.

Williams said his confidence increased through his junior year.

"It went pretty well I feel like," he said. " Didn't have to miss any games, but just battling through injuries and having a good training staff and the coaches and linemen. I feel like this year was the year we had the most confidence in ourselves."

Williams said his ability to pass protect and his overall football knowledge has improved substantially.

"I can see different things that as a freshman I wasn't able to see," Williams said. "I've definitely gotten a lot smarter on the football field."

Williams gained a measure of national notoriety after the season finale when people picked up on his "Hands up, don't shoot" gesture after scoring the first touchdown in Arkansas' 21-14 loss at Missouri.

Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema said he discussed the incident with Williams and how it took away from being a team sport and made it an individual thing.

"I didn't expect -- I wasn't expecting it to get blown up or anything like that," Williams said. "I feel like it kind of got out of hand."

Bielema said Williams expressed regret over making the gesture.

"I'm a team guy," Williams said. "You know, I think about the team first and foremost, so next time I'm just going to hand the ball to the ref and celebrate with my teammates."

Williams ranked fourth in the SEC and tied for 33rd nationally with 13 touchdowns, including four in Arkansas' 49-28 victory at Texas Tech. Williams scored eight touchdowns during his freshman and sophomore seasons.

"I think he's had an amazing season," said fellow tailback Alex Collins, who has 2,050 yards in two seasons, eclipsing 1,000 yards each season. "He's a great player, and he's one of the leaders on the team. I look up to him. He's like a brother to me."

Said tight end Hunter Henry, "He had such a consistent season. "He was banged up at times and continued to go to work every single day and be that consistent leader that we needed at that position. We needed someone like him. We knew we could rely on him whenever."

Williams made second-team All-SEC this week as selected by the Associated Press.

"It's pretty good," he said. "If you're not first you're last, in my opinion. So, I mean I'm happy about it. Like I said with everything, it's a team effort. I get the recognition because of people blocking for me. I just thank them and thank the Lord."

Sports on 12/12/2014

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