Former Florida State Seminoles running back Roydell Williams’ NFL opportunity ended almost as quickly as it began, as the Indianapolis Colts have waived the undrafted free agent to clear a roster spot for veteran wide receiver Keenan Allen.
Williams had signed with Indianapolis on July 31 after going undrafted in 2026. He appeared in one preseason game, managing just three carries for four yards.
For Seminoles fans, the news closes a chapter that never lived up to the hype that accompanied Williams’ arrival in Tallahassee.
Williams transferred from Alabama after the 2023 season as a highly regarded portal addition. A former four-star recruit and 2020 national champion with the Crimson Tide, he arrived with 1,165 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns over four years in Tuscaloosa.
FSU coaches and fans viewed him as a potential workhorse and veteran leader in a crowded backfield. That vision never materialized.
In two seasons with the Seminoles, Williams played just 11 games. He rushed 41 times for 99 yards and two touchdowns while adding seven receptions for 65 yards. His 2.4 yards per carry at Florida State marked a steep drop from his 5.0 average at Alabama. Injuries defined both years.
In 2024, he started the first three games before a leg injury sidelined him for most of the season; he returned only for the finale against Florida. In 2025 he started the season opener against his former Alabama team, then missed significant time again after another injury. He finished that year with 15 carries for 46 yards.
The production was a letdown. Williams was expected to provide physical, downhill running and leadership as a sixth-year senior. Instead he remained a complementary piece at best, never establishing himself as a featured back.
Florida State’s rushing attack relied more on other options, and Williams’ limited opportunities and inefficient numbers left many Noles supporters disappointed in what the transfer ultimately delivered.
Williams’ college career still included notable moments, including a 560-yard, five-touchdown season at Alabama in 2023 and two short-yardage touchdowns during his brief healthy stretches at FSU.
But his time in garnet and gold will be remembered more for what didn’t happen than for what did. Injuries robbed him of consistency, and the expected breakout never arrived.
The 5-foot-10, 214-pound Hueytown, Alabama, native now becomes a free agent once again. At 24, he still has time to catch on elsewhere as a depth piece or special-teams contributor.
For Florida State, though, his departure from the Colts simply underscores an underwhelming two-year tenure that never matched the expectations that greeted him when he entered the portal.
Seminoles fans can wish him well in his next opportunity while acknowledging that his chapter in Tallahassee fell short.
