Not only does Stanley “Boom” Williams have one of the best nicknames in college football, but he’s also one of the best playmakers you’ve never heard of in college football.

Webster’s defines the word “secret” as a mystery; something that is hidden or concealed.

Boom Williams wasn’t some no-name high school football prospect. Like many other SEC stars, Williams hails from the state of Georgia, where he was rated as the state’s No. 19 overall prospect and the country’s No. 6 overall all-purpose running back, according 247Sports. At the time he committed, Rivals rated Williams as the No. 1 all-purpose back in the country, giving the Cats their highest-rated commit in seven years.

Williams committed to the Georgia Bulldogs in high school, only to decommit and sign with Kentucky. He had offers from virtually every major university, which included Auburn, Georgia, LSU, South Carolina and Tennessee, among others.

Williams entered Kentucky amidst a loaded backfield, but he outplayed the competition as a backup. He shared carries with starter Braylon Heard (left school early), Jojo Kemp (returns in 2015) and Mikel Horton (also returning in 2015). And as good as Heard looked at times, Williams was no doubt the team’s top playmaker.

Boom finished with a team-high 74 carries for a team-high 486 yards and five touchdowns, averaging a gaudy 6.6 yards per carry.

Simply put: he needed more touches after recording two 100-yard outputs in his last three games. He’s special, and he’s the SEC’s best kept secret.

Why?

He plays on a ‘smaller market’ team in Lexington. That’s certainly a contributing factor. Also, Kentucky could have given him 125-plus touches as a true freshman; the Cats only gave him a total of 91 touches, including his 17 receptions.

Let’s breakdown Williams’ electrifying game:

Flashing the Boom: Williams’ sub 4.4 40-yard dash puts him among the SEC’s fastest players. A handful of plays stand out for Williams during his freshman season where speed was a major factor. The biggest was when he reversed field against Will Muschamp’s defense in The Swamp. Mind you, that was game three. Williams caught a swing pass on the right side of the field, only to reverse course and house it on the left side of the field for a 25-yard touchdown. You don’t do that against Florida’s defense in front of the home crowd, especially in overtime.

If you watched Kentucky’s games against Georgia and Louisville later in the season, Williams made sure you remembered him. He recorded 100 yards against the Bulldogs, averaging 10 yards a pop, and 126 yards against Louisville, with two touchdowns.

Although Williams would be categorized more as a scat back who can make people miss, his first step is what sets him apart. The fastest first step in college football I’ve ever witnessed was Percy Harvin. Harvin could get to top speed in a hurry; so can Williams. He finds the hole aided by great vision, and in a second, he’s gone.

Bringing the Boom: Although he’s probably average size for college running backs, Williams can deliver a nice blow against would-be tacklers. His 5-9, 195-pound frame is perfect for delivering contact. What helps make Williams great is his ability to put his body and frame into a particular position to absorb hits. Emmitt Smith was incredible at doing this, and it allowed Smith to have a long, successful career. Often, Williams shed tacklers and showed his power and lower body strength throughout the season.

Catching the Boom: Another aspect of Williams’ game is his ability to catch the football. If backs can become reliable receivers and block in pass protection, as coaches, you can’t take them off the field. Williams is making himself irreplaceable. Playing in Kentucky’s Air Attack offense, Williams’ catching ability will be crucial. Yes, Kentucky will run the football with its bevy of backs, but whichever back can separate himself as a reliable receiver will garner the most playing time.

Things are setting up perfectly for Williams’ imprint in the passing game.

Returning the Boom: I’d be forgetting a major aspect of Williams’ game and Kentucky’s ability to turn around games and flip the field if I didn’t mention his impact in the return game. He led the team with 511 return yards. His 1,159 all-purpose yards placed tied for 14th in the conference. His 10.5 yards per play ranked eighth, second among freshmen to Texas A&M’s Speedy Noil, who’s a lot like Williams.

Ready or not: here comes the Boom for 2015.