Bret Bielema opens up about David Williams enrolling at Arkansas

David Williams will get a chance to be an SEC running back next season, just not at South Carolina.

After spending the past four years as a Gamecock and amassing 253 yards his senior season, he ultimately deciding to transfer to Arkansas for his final college season.

Williams, who already graduated, is eligible immediately to play for head coach Bret Bielema, who’s known the running back for a while.

“He actually had come to visit me when I was at Wisconsin. When I made the transition to Arkansas, I was on -- recruiting or thinking about recruiting David, but he went in a different direction and committed to South Carolina in the SEC. I made note of that. I knew where he's at,” Bielema told reporters at SEC Media Days. “And then, you know, come full circle.”

Also see: Monday recruiting notes, including an update on Jovaughn Gwynn

Williams started five games in three seasons at South Carolina after redshirting his freshman season. He picked up 808 total yards on the ground and scored five touchdowns in his career.

He also learned from current NFL running back Mike Davis, who’s on the Seattle Seahawks’ roster.

“I knew I wanted somebody with little bit more maturity the room. That presented an opportunity to talk to David,” Bielema said. “I reached out to the SEC office, asked the questions I needed to ask to have him transfer in, got great information from the SEC office. Really then just started the appeal process, went through that.”

Also see: What's next for the Gamecocks on the recruiting trail?

Bielema commended Gamecock head coach Will Muschamp and his staff with how cooperative they were in Williams’s transfer process.

Sometimes, when players decide they’ll transfer, other schools can make a list of schools that player is not allowed to transfer to, which usually means other programs in the conference or a team’s rival.

With Williams, there was no block list preventing him from choosing Arkansas. Williams originally committed to Connecticut before ultimately choosing the Razorbacks.

The transfer will seemingly work out for both sides, with Williams getting more of a chance to play and the Gamecocks getting to use their young core of Rico Dowdle, AJ Turner and Ty’Son Williams in the backfield.

“They were very cooperative, didn't try to put a block on him or what not,” Bielema said. “I think this young man was recruited by Coach Spurrier, brought in and things didn't go his way. He graduated on time and deserved an opportunity.”