Indiana Quarterback Dexter Williams II Starting to Run Again After Knee Surgery

In the 2022 season finale against Purdue, Indiana quarterback Dexter Williams II suffered structural damage to his right knee that required surgery. Post operation, he was told he'd be out for a whole year, but Williams has been attacking his rehab and is making progress during spring ball.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Disaster struck for Indiana quarterback Dexter Williams II when he suffered a right knee dislocation with structural damage in the season finale 30-16 loss to Purdue on Nov. 26. 

The injury happened late in the first quarter, with Indiana leading 7-3, when Williams' knee gave out after planting it to change directions. He fell to the ground without any contact from the Boilermaker defense.

Indiana's Dexter Williams (5) winces in pain as he is injured during the first half of the Indiana versus Purdue football game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022.

© Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK

He was carted off the field and taken to the hospital in a horrific end to a once-promising 2022 campaign. Williams made his collegiate debut in the second half versus Penn State on Nov. 5, played three quarters versus Ohio State the following week and led the Hoosiers to a 39-31 win at Michigan State in his first career start.

On the season, Williams completed 13-of-38 passes for 184 yards and two touchdowns, both of which came versus the Buckeyes, and rushed 40 times for 165 yards. He scored his first rushing touchdown versus the Spartans just one week before his injury. While still a raw passer, his mobility created a true challenge for defenses.

Indiana's Dexter Williams II looks to throw against Michigan State during the third quarter on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.

© Nick King/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK

Williams is no stranger to injury, as he sat out the whole 2021 season after tearing his ACL the previous spring.

This time, Williams' diagnosis was significant structural damage to his knee that would require surgery, which he had in December of 2022. When January rolled around, Indiana coach Tom Allen spoke on his quarterback's progress and admired his commitment to the team despite a lengthy recovery period.

"Doing great," Allen said on Jan. 22. "He's attacking his rehab. Still don't know what the future holds in regard to the season. Obviously initially it was the diagnosis...that he would be out for the whole year. It would be a 12-month recovery, so there are opportunities maybe for that to increase a little bit. I just think time will tell."

Allen said Williams told him he'd still do anything to help the team win, on or off the field, and he was prepared to take on an off-field role while he recovered. The 2023 season will mark Williams' fourth year at Indiana, but he took a redshirt year in 2020 and has a bonus COVID season.

"He's that kind of guy, and this team is really important to him, and he wants to see us be great," Allen said. "Whatever it looks like, he's going to be attacking it every single day."

Fast forward to spring ball in April, and Williams has had the exact opportunity he anticipated — helping his teammates from the sidelines.

"Dex has kind of been wearing his coaching hat a little bit," offensive coordinator Walt Bell said following spring practice on Thursday. "He's been helping signal, and we're kind of treating him like a GA right now, and I think that's been really good for him too, not only from the mental side of things but just his general outlook and demeanor."

The Hoosiers have one more spring practice on Saturday open to fans before they take a break ahead of fall camp. With Williams on the sidelines, the quarterback competition is tight between redshirt freshmen Tennessee transfer Tayven Jackson and Brendan Sorsby.

After practice Thursday, Bell said he doesn't know if Williams is ahead, behind or on schedule in his recovery, but he's seen progress. 

"I know he's starting to run, and he's doing great," Bell said. "I just know that he looks good and he's starting to move around. He's a great kid. Can't wait to get him back."

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