Who is Kourt Williams II? All we know about Ohio State LB who retired from football due to injury

With the 2024 college football season drawing closer and programs resuming fall camp, Kourt Williams II has put an end to his career. The Ohio State linebacker took to Instagram on Tuesday to announce his retirement from the game after five years of battling with injuries.

Kourt Williams II played as a safety and linebacker for Ohio State over four seasons. He committed to the Buckeyes in July 2019 and enrolled early in 2020. Despite high expectations upon his arrival in Columbus, injuries prevented the defensive talent from reaching his potential in college football.

“4 knee surgeries & 3 shoulder surgeries - In these 5 years, there’s been a lot of light and a lot of dark…but I wouldn’t change a thing. It’s been a long time coming, and it’s time to move on,” Williams wrote.

“My family, teammates, and everybody who has stuck by me thought it all…I thank you & I love you. The Lord’s plan is always greater. I’ll see you soon - Deuce."

This means the linebacker won't be resuming to the Ohio State fall camp after the spring camp. It is not known what endeavor Kourt Williams II will embark on following his retirement. However, his role as a leader and captain for the Buckeyes shows he can be a good coach.

Kourt Williams II college football career

Kourt Williams II was recruited as a four-star prospect by Ohio State in the class of 2020. He was anticipated to be an impact player for the Buckeyes right from his freshman season. However, he unfortunately suffered a torn ACL in the fall camp, missing out on the entire season.

Williams resumed action for the Buckeyes in the 2021 college football season, playing as a backup safety. He played in 11 games and recorded 28 total tackles, including four tackles for loss, one sack, and one pass deflection, marking a redemption for his career.

He was anticipated to have a much larger role in the team in 2022 and was named a team captain by head coach Ryan Day ahead of the season. However, his season was cut short by a shoulder injury, limiting him to just six games and not much impact in all of them.

Kourt Williams II transitioned to linebacker ahead of the 2023 college football season, aiming to contribute at the second level of Ohio State's defense. However, he once again suffered another torn ACL during fall camp, playing no part for the Buckeyes in the entire season.

Not much was expected from Williams in the 2024 college football season as he did not participate in the spring camp due to his recovery process. He decided to end it all by retiring from the sport after what had been a difficult five years for him in Columbus.