April 9, 2010
By John Denton
UCFAthletics.com
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ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - Few players value their role as a leader and a respected member of the UCF football team more than senior defensive end David Williams.
Why, just the other day a player on the offensive side of the ball stopped Williams in the middle of practice and told him what a good player he thought he was. And Williams himself, a quiet player often of few words, measures his every comment and action, knowing that he's looked to by his peers as one of UCF's most appreciated players.
``I'm not a very vocal guy. When I do speak to the guys on the field it's usually in a voice that only they can hear,'' Williams said. ``I have tried to be more vocal. Being more vocal can be a good thing, but sometimes I think you can talk a little too much. You just want to keep the respect and the honor of the guys around you.''
UCF's football team will be back on the field Saturday morning at 10 a.m. for the third scrimmage session of spring drills. After Saturday, the Knights will practice just twice more before the April 17th Black and Gold Spring Game at Bright House Networks Stadium.
Coaches and players alike at UCF rave about the 6-2, 235-pound Williams as one of the Knights' most solid and respected players. A redshirt senior, Williams has shed his quiet side and become more of a leader along the defensive line for the Knights.
Williams was an integral part of the UCF defense that ranked fourth in the country last season in stopping the run. Defensive line coach Jim Panagos values Williams greatly because of his football smarts, his dependability and his toughness.
``He's a good, solid football player who is tough and always does his job,'' Panagos said. ``David's very accountable and loves to win. And with David, you just know that he's going to be where he's supposed to be.''
Williams, who seems mature beyond his years with his calm, pleasant nature, puts great stock in being a player the UCF coaching staff can depend on. And he wants to be a player that others on the team look up to.
``I really want to live up to that role and keep it,'' said Williams, a Lexington, S.C. native. ``Once I get to where I have the coach's confidence, I want to keep doing the same things and doing all of the right things.''
Playing mostly on run downs last season, Williams recorded 27 tackles, six stops for a loss, a sack and three quarterback hurries. He's worked hard on improving his pass rush skills this season so that he can stay on the field on passing downs and provide the Knights another threat off the edge.
Williams spent hours in the film room this spring, watching his own moves with Panagos. Also, he's closely watched fellow defensive end Bruce Miller, the Conference USA Player of the Year last season, in hopes of becoming a better pass rusher.
``I'm watching a lot of film and Coach Panagos is showing me the things that I'm doing wrong and telling me the things that I'm doing right,'' Williams said. ``I'm working on my clubs, rips, swim moves and swipes. I had an offensive guy come up to me (recently) and tell me that I do a really good job, and all of that encouragement helps out a lot.''
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John Denton's Knights Insider appears on UCFathletics.com several times a week. E-mail John at jdenton@athletics.ucf.edu.