Former Notre Dame Star Kyren Williams Cracks NFL Top 100 Players List After Breakout Year With Los Angeles Rams

Kyren Williams is officially a top-100 player in the NFL. That’s not a prediction. That’s not a projection. That’s reality.

In what feels like a blink, the former Notre Dame running back has transformed from a mid-round NFL Draft pick and college fan favorite into one of the league’s most electrifying offensive weapons. After a breakout 2024 season with the Los Angeles Rams, Williams has been voted by his peers into the NFL’s prestigious Top 100 Players list—a testament to his undeniable talent, relentless motor, and ability to seize every opportunity thrown his way.

For Notre Dame fans, this isn’t a surprise—it’s a confirmation.

Williams, who dazzled in South Bend from 2020 to 2021, built his college legacy on toughness, versatility, and heart. He rushed for over 2,100 yards across his final two seasons at Notre Dame while also being a lethal pass-catching option and a pass-blocking nightmare for defenders. His football IQ and vision were always NFL-caliber, even if some scouts questioned his size or long speed.

Now, in the NFL, those doubts have vanished.

What Kyren Williams did in 2024 wasn’t just good—it was elite. He finished among the top five in rushing yards, routinely broke off chunk plays, and became the heartbeat of the Rams offense after stepping into a full-time role. He amassed over 1,300 rushing yards and 15 total touchdowns in just 13 games, missing a few weeks with an ankle injury that, if anything, only emphasized his importance to Los Angeles. The Rams struggled without him. When he returned, they surged—and so did the praise for No. 23.

NFL veterans and analysts alike took notice. And most importantly, the players—the ones lining up against him—voted him in. Being included in the NFL Top 100 Players list is not just a media honor; it’s one of the most respected accolades in the league because it comes from peers. These are the players who have tried—and often failed—to stop Williams. They’ve felt the sharp cuts, the burst, the relentless churn of his legs after contact. They’ve watched film of him slipping through gaps, catching screen passes, picking up blitzes like a sixth offensive lineman. And they know exactly what he brings to the field.

To make this list so early in his NFL career is a reflection of not just production, but reputation.

Williams joins a growing list of Notre Dame alumni making their mark on Sundays, further cementing the Irish as one of the premier programs for NFL development. For Notre Dame’s current and future players, his rise offers a blueprint of what it looks like to stay patient, stay hungry, and stay ready.

When Williams left Notre Dame after the 2021 season, some questioned if he was too small to carry the load in the NFL. The Rams took him in the fifth round of the 2022 draft—not exactly a splashy pick. His rookie season was mostly quiet, spent learning behind other backs and waiting for the game to slow down. But when 2024 rolled around, Kyren didn’t just ask for the keys to the offense—he took them. And he drove the Rams back to the playoffs, putting together multiple 100-yard games, electrifying highlight runs, and clutch performances down the stretch.

His running style is a throwback: tough, decisive, and surprisingly powerful. He doesn’t shy away from contact; he invites it. But he also brings a modern versatility to the table. In Sean McVay’s system, Williams blossomed as a do-it-all back—an outlet for quarterback Matthew Stafford, a spark plug when the passing game stalled, and a closer in tight games. The Rams trusted him not just on first and second down, but on third and short, third and long, and in red-zone situations where everything shrinks.

Trust like that doesn’t come easy in the NFL, especially for young backs. But Williams earned every snap.

He’s also earned a reputation off the field as a humble leader and fierce competitor. Teammates rave about his preparation and toughness. Coaches speak glowingly about his football intelligence. Fans love his underdog story. From St. Louis to South Bend to Los Angeles, Williams’ football journey is as blue-collar as it gets. No shortcuts. No excuses. Just results.

And now, respect.

Being ranked among the NFL’s top 100 players puts Williams in elite company. It validates his status as one of the most impactful players in the league and raises expectations moving forward. For the Rams, it’s a sign that their offense has a foundation in the backfield. For opposing defenses, it’s a warning: Kyren Williams isn’t going anywhere.

As he prepares for the 2025 season, Williams is no longer just a promising young player—he’s a proven star. And for Notre Dame fans, there’s pride in knowing that one of their own continues to represent the gold helmet with class and excellence at the highest level of the sport.

There’s something poetic about Williams’ rise. At Notre Dame, he wasn’t always the flashiest name on the roster, but he was always the most consistent. He blocked like a lineman, ran like a hammer, and caught like a receiver. He didn’t just play running back—he mastered every facet of it. And now, that all-around game is turning heads in the NFL.

The journey from South Bend to NFL stardom wasn’t easy, but Kyren Williams never expected it to be. He was built for the grind. He embraced the doubters. And now, he’s earned one of the highest honors a professional football player can receive.

A top-100 player in the NFL.

Let that sink in.

Notre Dame built the foundation. The Rams gave him the platform. And Kyren Williams delivered the rest.

No gimmicks. No hype machine. Just a relentless work ethic, elite football instincts, and the heart of a champion.

If this is just the beginning, then the rest of the league better buckle up.

Because Kyren Williams is just getting started.