UNLV Rebels running back Charles Williams (8) carries the ball past Fresno State Bulldogs defensive back Bralyn Lux (38) during the second half at Allegiant Stadium Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020.
Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2020 | 2:47 p.m.
The UNLV football team will return its top running back in 2021.
Senior Charles Williams, who rushed for 495 yards and four touchdowns in the COVID-impacted 2020 campaign, will take advantage of an extra year of eligibility granted by the NCAA and compete in a sixth UNLV season.
He will arguably be the top returning rusher in the Mountain West, having rushed for 1,257 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2019.
It’s rare to get a sixth year of college eligibility, yet the pandemic has ushered in some strange times — UNLV played six games in 2020 and had two canceled because of virus concerns.
The “Chuck Wagon” rushed for 763 yards and three touchdowns in 2016 as a true freshman. But he was limited to 12 carries in 2017 after a season-ending injury and qualified to red-shirt on the way what has become a lengthy tenure in Las Vegas for the Fresno, Calif., native.
Having a proven rusher — Williams had 116 of the team’s 224 carries — is one less worry for second-year coach Marcus Arroyo. The team struggled to a winless record in 2020 as the virus impacted the roster, forcing unproven players into the lineup on both sides of the ball.
"He is one of the premier backs in the conference, and he will be a huge part of what we do offensively," Arroyo posted on Twitter. "Even more importantly, he is the type of leader we want in our locker room, in the classroom and off the field. We got better today in having him return."
The team couldn’t settle on a quarterback and struggled to slow down opponents on defense. Yet they found a few nice pieces moving forward, such as wide receiver Kyle Williams, the Mountain West Freshman of the Year.
