CLARKSVILLE, Tenn (CLARKSVILLENOW) —An Austin Peay senior running back has been named Preseason Second-Team All-American as an all-purpose player by STATS FCS.
Kentel Williams led the FCS in yards per carry a season ago, averaging 7.99 yards per rush. He finished second in the Ohio Valley Conference in rushing yards, racking up 831 yards and seven touchdowns on 104 carries.
A native of Knoxville, Tennessee, Williams finished third in the FCS for all-purpose yards in 2018, averaging 167.78 per game. He led the OVC with 547 kickoff return yards on 24 returns. He also caught 17 passes for 127 yards to finish with 1,510 all-purpose yards in 2018, the sixth highest total in Austin Peay history.
In recognition of his all-around efforts a season ago, the Associated Press called Williams a Third-Team All-America selection as an all-purpose back.
Williams enters the 2019 campaign as an offensive leader for the Governors, being one of two Govs named to the Preseason All-OVC Team a week ago at the conferences’ football media day.
In his three seasons at APSU, Williams has already established himself as one of the top running back talents to come through the program His 2,046 career rushing yards rank sixth all-time at APSU, and his 15 career rushing touchdowns are tied for seventh all-time.
Additionally, he currently ranks first in career yards per carry, averaging 6.64 yards per rush. His 110.3 career all-purpose yards per game currently ranks fourth in Austin Peay history and his 3,419 career all-purpose yards ranks eighth.
Williams and the rest of the Governors have begun preparations for the 2019 campaign. The team reported to fall camp, Thursday, August 1.
The Governors kick off the season on Thursday, August 29, at 7 p.m. against North Carolina Central inside Fortera Stadium.