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GOLDANDBLACK EXPRESS • VOLUME 25, EXPRESS 6 • 17 Tom Campbell Frankie Williams has 230 all-purpose yards this season, including 95 on his two interception returns and 135 on seven punt returns. Only three other players, all offen- sive players, have more for Purdue this season. BY KYLE CHARTERS KCharters@ GoldandBlack.com F rankie Williams has trouble holding still. The energy-filled ju- nior almost never comes off the field on defense, lining up at strong safety, where he converted after two years as a cornerback, or nickel back, and he's the Boilermakers' punt return man, giving him several extra snaps per game on special teams. But even when he's not on the field, he's trying to influence teammates who are. During Purdue's loss to Iowa Saturday, when the defense was being dominant but the offense was struggling, Williams jumped inside the offen - sive huddle near the side- lines to encourage team- mates as they went on the field to start a possession. "I never really feel like I'm out of energy," he said. "Until I'm like dead at like 11 p.m., then I have to go to sleep, like immediately. But other than that, I'm pretty jacked all day." Purdue will take the juiced-up Williams — de- fensive coordinator Greg Hudson calls him a "cup of coffee," full of caffeine- buzzed hyperactivity — because it has produced results. The 5-foot-9, 189-pounder has 34 tackles this season, putting him on pace for a career-high 82, more than 20 better than his previous best. But more than that, he's made game- changing plays, his 39-yard pick-six against the Hawk - eyes in the first quarter putting the Boilermakers up, and his 56-yard return in the opener leading to a touchdown vs. Western Michigan. His two picks are one short of the Big Ten's best. Williams is also aver - aging 19.3 yards per punt return, good for the 11th- best average in the country and No. 2 in the league, and frequently has set Purdue up for scores, like he did with his 18-yarder that led to a field goal vs. the Hawk- eyes. "There are guys that just simply make plays," Coach Darrell Hazell said, "but there are also guys who just leave it all out on the field. He's one of those guys that just plays with his heart outside his jersey." And Williams is doing so at a new position. In the summer, the Tampa na - tive volunteered to move to strong safety, where Purdue had a void due to the two-game suspension of veteran Taylor Richards. And the Boilermak- ers thought well of the idea, too, as it allowed them to leave An- thony Brown at cor- nerback, where he's excelled, and get fellow corner Antoine Lewis on the field as a regular. Since Rich- ards has returned, Williams has maintained the start- ing spot, although the two frequently play at the same time. When they do, Wil- liams moves down to nickel back, as a quasi strongside linebacker. Williams never thought it was a question as to whether he'd be success- ful playing more inside the hash marks, because he thinks his skills fit the posi- tion well. "I want to have contact, I like to tackle," he said. "I want to get in there with the b i g g u y s here or there, if you don't get thrown a r o u n d . And just (the) covering, it's the same thing (as at cornerback). "I wanted to do it and wanted to do anything to help the team win. I thought I was the most veteran guy who knew the playbook in and out and thought I could fit well back there." F O O T B A L L F E A T U R E : F R A N K I E W I L L I A M S BOOST Williams' energy positively affecting Boilermakers