As rough a ride as UL’s 2025 season has been for many, redshirt senior linebacker Terrence Williams won’t be remembering it without a big smile and a feeling of accomplishment.

The former Many High School two-way performer began his career with the Ragin’ Cajuns as a running back and was a big part of the offense for two seasons.

During that time, the bruising inside runner rushed for 477 yards and two scores on 135 carries and also caught 11 passes for 48 yards and a score.

Then came a big position change to defense during bowl preparation two years ago. His first season at linebacker resulted in spotty playing time, finishing with 20 tackles in 14 games.

This season, Williams is UL’s second-leading tackler.

“Oh man, it’s been fun,” said Williams, whose Cajuns will play Delaware at 7:30 p.m. in the 68 Ventures Bowl on Wednesday in Mobile, Alabama. “If you would have told me three, four, five years ago, coming into college, that I’ll be changing position and playing linebacker, I would have never thought, but it’s been remarkably fun.”

In fact, Williams said his mother recently sent him a screenshot of his first game “really, really getting snaps,” and his response was, “‘I hadn’t had fun like that in a real long time,’ so it’s been fun.”

From the start of the transition, UL’s staff believed the position change would better suit Williams and this season has supported that claim.

“I feel like I’ve played good,” Williams said. “At times, I’ve played not up to par, but I feel like I played solid throughout the season and done my part.”

Through the regular season, Williams finished with 90 tackles, including 2½ stops behind the line, a quarterback sack and a forced fumble.

“What a great young man Terrence Williams is,” UL defensive coordinator Jim Salgado said. “He has played a ton for us and has made a ton of plays. Coming in from last year, where he didn’t play a lot. This year, he’s taking this position and becoming a leader on our defense.”

With plenty of competition at the position with leading tackler Jaden Dugger, Caleb Kibodi and Kailep Edwards, the 6-foot-1, 225-pounder had to earn his playing time.

And I’m proud of him, you know, because he earned the right to start, he earned the right to play a lot, and that’s what it’s all about,” Salgado said. “When you’re a coach, that makes you proud, and I’m excited for him.

“He’s got one more game here, right, in the vermilion and white, and he’s going to go out on top, man. That’s the way we’re going to send him out on Wednesday night.”

Williams said having better command of his eyes on the field is where his biggest upgrade came this season.

“You have to have good eyes,” Williams said. “With all emotions now in college football, you get emotion every play. It’s easy to get your eyes in the wrong spot, so they can go here with the ball. That affects the linebackers a lot, so I say having my eyes on the right spot.”

His other contribution, which doesn’t show up on any statistical lines, is the leadership Williams displayed as one of the team leaders when the Cajuns began the season 2-6.

“I just made sure we came to work every day — just making sure nothing changed,” Williams said. “When we get on that practice field or we get on that football field, nothing should change.

“We should play just how we’re playing Week 1 or playing when we’re winning and we were 10-2. We should be playing that same type of ball and practicing with that same type of urgency and energy. None of that should change.”

The younger members of the Cajuns’ roster bought into that approach and now UL is hoping to end the season on a five-game winning streak.

“We had a decision to make,” Williams said. “Coach called the team up and it was like, ‘We could pack it in, and it would be easier, or we could fight and come out on the other side of this thing where we want to be.’ ”

So despite the long, winding road Williams has taken to Wednesday’s career-ending bowl game in Mobile, Alabama, he said he wouldn’t change the path for anything.

“Extremely worth it,” Williams said. “This journey has changed me and shaped me into the person I am now. It built character, humility, being humble … if I could do it all over again, I’d do the same thing.”