Eric Boggs
Kourt Williams’ Ohio State football career has come to an end. On the eve of Ohio State’s 2024 preseason camp, Williams announced his retirement from football via Instagram. In his post, he shared that he has undergone four knee surgeries and three shoulder surgeries over the past five years.
As a four-star recruit in the 2020 class, Williams joined Ohio State with high hopes of making a significant impact on the Buckeyes’ defense. However, his journey was marred by injuries, beginning with a torn ACL during preseason camp before his freshman season.
In 2021, Williams contributed as a backup safety, recording 28 total tackles, four tackles for loss, one sack, and one pass deflection. His leadership qualities earned him the honor of being named a team captain before the 2022 season. Unfortunately, that season was also cut short by a shoulder injury. He transitioned to linebacker last offseason with aspirations of strengthening the Buckeyes’ defense at the second level, but he suffered another torn ACL during preseason camp.
Williams did not participate in this year’s spring practices as he continued to recover from his latest injury and was not expected to play a significant role in the 2024 season.
In an interview session last August, Williams acknowledged that he still felt the effects of his previous injuries but was not ready to give up on football. However, after another major injury and a year of reflection, Williams—who graduated from Ohio State in 2023 with a degree in communications—has decided to move on to the next chapter of his life.
I met Kourt two months ago at a youth camp in Baltimore, Ohio. He spoke about his journey from the west coast to Columbus, how he has had to battle injuries throughout his college career, but how he has never questioned God and continues to trust Him for whatever he faces next. Looking back on that hot summer evening when Kourt was reflecting on his career, it seemed as if he was foreshadowing this announcement.
My prayer and hope is that Kourt will peace with this decision and that no matter what he decides to do moving forward, he will be successful. He is a great man who seems wise beyond his years and deserves nothing but the best in whatever endeavors he faces next.
Williams’ retirement leaves Ohio State with 80 known scholarship players for the 2024 season. It is anticipated that the remaining five scholarships will be awarded to walk-ons, though Ohio State has not yet announced which walk-ons will receive them.
For the 2024 season, the Buckeyes have seven linebackers on scholarship: Cody Simon, Sonny Styles, C.J. Hicks, Gabe Powers, Arvell Reese, Payton Pierce, and Garrett Stover.
