# Rawleigh Williams one of the SEC's top rusher last season is retiring. **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [May 8, 2017, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rawleigh-williams-one-of-the-secs-top-rusher-last-season-is-retiring/786164 "2017-05-08T22:26:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2017, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rawleigh-williams-one-of-the-secs-top-rusher-last-season-is-retiring/786164/1 "2017-05-08T22:26:28Z")
Williams had a neck injury in 2015. Had surgery to fuse a ruptured disc and two doctors cleared him to play. He had his best season ever in 2016. He finished third in the SEC in rushing with 1,360 yards and 12 touchdowns. He missed the top spot by 27 yards. It seemed like he’d finish his college career. He’s a smart kid that wins academic awards. A routine play during the last spring 2017 practice game ended his playing. Rawleigh is ok now. But it was a wake up call for him. I’m impressed how Coach Bielema has fully committed to help Rawleigh achieve his dreams off the field. That’s a class move. Rawleigh will be working with the coaches as a student assistant this Fall. I wouldn’t be surprised if they steer him into coaching. > **[Arkansas RB Williams quits due to neck injury](https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/19338153/arkansas-running-back-rawleigh-williams-iii-decided-quit-football-suffering-second-neck-injury)** > > Arkansas' Rawleigh Williams III has decided to walk away from football after suffering a second neck injury. > [@](#): > > “I’ve seen the replay. I saw a normal hit. That scared me. It shows me it doesn’t take a big hit at this point,” Williams’ letter read, in part. “Any little thing can trigger it. I also saw the reaction of my mom and my sister. That broke my heart. I can’t do this anymore. I want to be able to walk. I’m moving onto the next chapter of my life.” Coach Bielema is stepping up to help. > [@](#): > > I can’t wait to work under him and learn. I want to be a general manager one day, and he’s already helped me look into career paths to achieve my goals." ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rawleigh-williams-one-of-the-secs-top-rusher-last-season-is-retiring/786164/2 "2017-05-09T17:40:37Z")
Stories like this make me feel good about sports. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rawleigh-williams-one-of-the-secs-top-rusher-last-season-is-retiring/786164/3 "2017-05-09T17:46:46Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > Stories like this make me feel good about sports. 🙂 Yes, it’s awesome that the guy is smart enough to realize that all that hitting can have potentially life-altering, crippling effects and to stop subjecting his body to it so he can have a long, normal life, helping others to put themselves in harm’s way so somebody else can continue to get rich off the current oppressive sport’s system. That’s just awesome. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rawleigh-williams-one-of-the-secs-top-rusher-last-season-is-retiring/786164/4 "2017-05-09T19:55:44Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Yes, it’s awesome that the guy is smart enough to realize that all that hitting can have potentially life-altering, crippling effects and to stop subjecting his body to it so he can have a long, normal life, helping others to put themselves in harm’s way so somebody else can continue to get rich off the current oppressive sport’s system. > > That’s just awesome. Not every athlete suffers an injury that makes them vulnerable the way that Williams did. He was able to step away without acrimony, and he’s being supported rather than having coaches talk him into risking his life in order to exploit his talent. So yes, it is awesome. You’re making it sound like he one day woke up and realized “gosh, sports are dangerous” and decided to instead be a person that enables others to be hurt. That’s a gross misrepresentation. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2017, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rawleigh-williams-one-of-the-secs-top-rusher-last-season-is-retiring/786164/5 "2017-05-10T00:22:43Z")
Rawleigh is a very special kid with a bright future. He recently tweeted his 2nd SEC Academic Honor Roll award. > He’s already talking plans for graduate school studies in a couple years. I’m glad he made the right decision to step away from competing in sports.