Spring Break
After college career, Williams has found identity
Russell Blair
Issue date: 3/31/09 Section: Sports
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A one-star recruit, not only was he not one of the top 100 recruits in the state of Georgia, he wasn't even the highest rated recruit out of his hometown of Decatur, Ga. That honor went to fellow linebacker Kevin Washington out of Southwest Dekalb High School.
Williams, a 6-foot-1, 200-pound prospect had split time at tight end and outside linebacker in high school, but lacked the size and strength to wow coaches at the next level. Washington received offers from four Division I schools while Williams received, and accepted, his lone offer from UConn.
Five years later, Williams has grown two inches, tacked on 60 pounds - mostly muscle - and has a chance to be one of five players in his incoming recruitment class to go on to play in the NFL. At the Huskies' Pro Day last Wednesday, Williams proved his worth, busting out 36 reps on the bench press, leaping an impressive 41 inches in the vertical and running a blistering 4.61 in the 40-yard-dash.
Despite the hours of effort Williams has exhausted in the weight room, he still points to coach Randy Edsall for motivating him, teaching him the facets of the game and bringing him to the point where he is today.
"It's all because of Randy Edsall and the way he taught us and the way he's been running the program," said Williams. "Freshman year [our program] wasn't that big, but he brought us all up. He knew what it takes to be in the NFL, he was a coach there, and he brought that to us."
Williams, who missed going to the NFL combine by a single vote, was watched intently by scouts from several NFL teams and his eye popping numbers, specifically 36 reps in the bench press, garnered him some additional looks. Thirty-six reps on the bench would have put him second at the Combine, behind only Michigan defensive tackle Terrance Taylor, who pounded out 37.
In addition to proving his strength, his impressive vertical leap - 41 inches - would have been far and away the best at the Combine and shows his ability to be a factor defending the pass, an important skill he'll require as he makes the shift from defensive end to outside linebacker at the next level.
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