AMHERST — Jalen Williams didn’t look like someone fighting an injury. Not to anyone that saw him contort his body Saturday to catch his second touchdown anyway.
In the fourth quarter against Mississippi State, the UMass senior receiver reached his right arm out with his back parallel to the ground and tapped the ball up just enough to keep it airborne. He then barrel-rolled to put his chest parallel to the turf allowing his shoulders to shield him from incoming contact. He pulled the ball under him with two hands for the 19-yard score.
But Williams, who missed all of last year with a leg injury, is still fighting an ankle injury that sidelined him for most of the preseason and has limited his availability so far this year.
He’s caught only five passes this season, three of which, including two Saturday, have gone for touchdowns. His only catch at Florida, a 24-yarder on third-and-long, set up the Minutemen’s lone touchdown.
“I know it’s my last year. I can’t waste time or take a play off. I try to do as much as I can when I can,” Williams said. “I’m still not 100 percent, but my ankle is manageable.”
Manageable is a big step forward compared to last year when he never got on the field. The year off was hard.
“It hurt watching everyone out there playing, knowing I could be doing the same thing,” said Williams, who had a good spring and was the team’s best receiver in the spring game.
But the ankle injury added to his frustration.
“I was really anxious. The injury prolonged the wait,” he said. “I was just ready to go out there and make a play if it came to me.”
In 2014, Williams caught 20 passes for 307 yards and four touchdowns. UMass coach Mark Whipple had seen enough of Williams in that season to count on him in games even if he barely practiced early this season.
“He’s got experience. He was our best guy coming in,” Whipple said. “Now he’s back. It makes a difference in what we’re trying to do.”
Williams said he’s getting closer to 100 percent. He played more plays Saturday (49) than in previous games and was still healthy at the end.
His participation in Tuesday’s practice was more than he’s done this season as well. He’s trying to take care of his ankle without being inhibited by it.
“I just try not to think about it. I just think about the goal, which is winning the game,” Williams said. “I can feel myself getting better. I feel like I’ll be 100 percent in the next two or three or four weeks.”
Whipple has seen improvement.
“He’s a lot better. He made it through the game and played 49 plays,” Whipple said. “He seemed to get better as the game went on.”
Quarterback Andrew Ford was impressed with what he’s seen from Williams at less than full strength. So the idea of an improved Williams excited him.
“He’s just a great player. He’s been battling some injuries,” Ford said. “To get him healthy, everyone is starting to see what he can do. He’s a big time playmaker.”
Matt Vautour can be reached at mvautour@gazettenet.com. Get UMass coverage delivered in your Facebook news feed at www.facebook.com/GazetteUMassCoverage