Much like other transfer students, junior running back Mon Williams did not know what to expect when he first arrived at Eastern’s campus.

After traveling to campus and having numerous conversations with fellow running back Chevon Walker, Williams decided to make the transfer from Florida, where he had been part of two National Championship teams in 2006 and 2008.

“(Walker) and I had a lot of long talks about coming to Eastern and playing football,” Williams said. “He told me that EIU had a lot of good coaches and they had a dedication to running the ball, so from there I just decided to give it a shot.”

Since arriving at Eastern, Williams has already started to make his presence known.

Through the first two games of the season Williams has accumulated 200 total rushing yards on 31 carries, which is an average of 6.5 yards per carry.

Williams has also scored three touchdowns, including a season-long run of 54 yards in Saturday’s victory against Indiana State.

Despite his strong numbers, Eastern offensive coordinator Roy Wittke believes Williams’ skills will continue to grow.

“(Williams) has a great combination of size and speed,” Wittke said. “He’s our most physical runner to date and he does a great job of breaking tackles and getting extra yards after contact.”

Eastern head coach Bob Spoo has especially been impressed with Williams’ work ethic.

“When (Williams) first came to EIU, he was down at the bottom of the depth chart at running back and now he is at the top of the depth chart,” Spoo said. “His hard work and work ethic, combined with his willingness to learn have allowed him to progress as quick as he has.”

Even though Williams has had success in the first two games of the 2009 season, things have not always been smooth for him.

In 2007, while attending Florida, Williams suffered a torn ACL that sidelined him for the entire 2007 season.

Williams – a 6-foot-2, 220-pound junior, said he was disappointed by how things ended in 2007, but it gave him motivation to come back and be stronger than ever.

“My ACL injury taught me how to work harder,” Williams said.

He said he went through an intense rehab process that included strength training of his ACL, as well as quad extensions, squats and footwork drills.

Even though he was immersed in his rehab process, Williams said he received the biggest motivation from his mother, Dee Smith.

“My mom called me every day and told me to pray and remain positive,” Williams said. “She told me that everything happens for a reason and that I will overcome this obstacle soon enough.”

Heading into the rest of the 2009 season, Williams said he is focused on continuing his strong performances.

“As long as our offensive line continues to block like they have, we should continue our success back into the playoffs and hopefully the championship,” Williams said.

Neil Schneider can be reached at 581-7944 or [email protected].