The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/603303
with each passing Saturday, but Wil- liams is already proud of what he has accomplished this year. "I try to stay humble, but your friends and family say it's nice to see you doing other things besides block- ing, and it brings a smile to my face because I'm not one-dimensional," he said. "I haven't had this much fun playing football in a while." Williams' remaining goals are team objectives. He wants to compete for the Big Ten title, but regardless if that happens for U-M this season or not he is excited for the program's future. "It feels great to be part of this change we're making," he said. "I know we're headed in the right di- rection. "As a senior, if you can't be here for the years to come, you want to be a part of the change and the reason the program is moving forward." Williams is just one of many recla- mation projects on this current Maize and Blue team, joining a group of players that includes senior fullback Sione Houma, senior Buck linebacker Royce Jenkins-Stone, redshirt junior cornerback Jeremy Clark and red- shirt junior receiver Jehu Chesson. All have found renewed purpose and life under Harbaugh. But in every case — including Wil- liams' — the desire and effort had to be there. "He's the one that has done the work," Jim Harbaugh said. "It's made him a better player. He's seen some results and I think he could see more dividends pay off, and that would be good for him and our foot- ball team." "I've been very impressed with him," redshirt junior wideout Amara Darboh added. "He's always been a good blocker, has always had good hands, and I'm happy for him that he's progressing and making plays for us." Standing inside Schembechler Hall, addressing the media, Williams burst into a grin, showing off a per- petual smile that was four years in the making. "I don't know how many catches I had in high school, but I know I have never seen the ball in my hands this much ever in my entire life," he said, sounding completely satisfied. ❏ Williams went from weighing 290 pounds this past spring to now checking in at 275, but coaches say he has also improved in other areas. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN