The Ottawa Redblacks announced on Thursday that running back Devonte Williams underwent successful surgery to repair a torn Achilles tendon suffered during off-season training. This is typically a nine-month recovery period. Williams recently signed a two-year contract extension with the team through the 2025 season on February 1, 2024.
Devonte Williams is five foot nine and weighs 170 pounds. The 27-year-old from Columbia, Maryland, had 182 carries for 1,002 yards (5.5 AVG), three touchdowns, 37 catches for 327 yards (8.8 AVG), and four kick returns for 73 yards (18.2 AVG) in 15 games for the Redblacks in 2023.
The Redblacks signed Williams as a free agent on April 20, 2022. In 2022, Williams had 90 carries for 454 yards (5.0 AVG), and 27 catches for 159 yards (5.9 AVG) in eight games. Before Ottawa, Williams was on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers practice squad in 2021.
Collegiately, Williams played two seasons at Indiana University (2015-16) with 68 carries for 237 yards, 19 catches for 218 yards, two touchdowns, and 77 kick returns for 1,511 yards in 26 games for the Hoosiers. Williams is sixth on Indiana’s all-time list with 1,511 kick return yards.
Then, Williams transferred to Southeastern Louisiana (2017-18) with 222 carries for 892 yards, 12 touchdowns, 88 catches for 720 yards, three touchdowns, 10 kick returns for 164 yards, 18 punt returns for 251 yards, and one touchdown in 23 games for the Lions. He was named First Team All-Southland Conference in 2018.
