Ronell Williams' Next Step Looks Like The NFL
PHILADELPHIA, PA (CBS)— Ronell Williams tries to suppress it. But it gets hard sometimes for the 6-foot-1, 240-pound West Chester University All-American middle linebacker, by way of Chester High.
Watching Williams play is almost a joke, simply because he's so much more advanced than everyone he plays against. He is so good that he's garnering NFL attention and could possibly be drafted in 2015 out of Division II West Chester (like Joe Senser, Ralph Tamm and Lee Woodall).
And it all stems from a player who's a constant eye of attention from someone once ignored by a number of Division I programs. There's no doubt that they all would love to have the West Chester star now.
Too late.
"I feel like it would have never worked out had I gone to some of the schools that rejected me," Williams said. "Would I have played my first year? Who knows? I came in and I was able to start at West Chester my first year and gained a lot of experience right away. Instead of being angry over the schools that didn't take me, I just look at it and thank God West Chester did take me.
"But I have to be honest, thinking back on all the schools that past me up does motivate me. This off-season, I acquired the nickname 'Hurricane.' My family calls me Hurricane because I take everything by storm, like classroom, on the field, off the field. In the weight room, I just think of all the reasons why I've gone this far. Some schools missed out on something here—and I couldn't be happier that I am here at West Chester. They gave me the chance—and it's something I'll never forget."
A few NFL scouts have been out to West Chester to look at Williams. He knows now he has eyes on him. He says he's more mindful of what he says and how he leads, as a senior captain for the nationally ranked Rams, who enter their home opener this Saturday against Mercyhurst ranked No. 9 by the American Football Coaches Association.
Williams is a sideline-to-sideline player. He says he feels so much faster this year—after gaining 15 pounds. During the offseason, he worked with three different speed coaches. He's trimmed his 40-second time down to 4.6 seconds. In West Chester's 35-30 season-opening victory over New Haven last Saturday, Williams had nine tackles.
"I channeled all of my animosity towards something positive and I'm going to be the first person to graduate a four-year college in my entire family in December [in pre-occupational therapy]," said Williams, who carries a 3.1 GPA. "I haven't been really tuned into where I may go in the draft, if I get drafted. But all my focus is being thrown into this season. I know that this season had a lot riding on it. If I don't handle my business this season, none of that matters if I don't have a great season and help my team win. I needed to be prepared."
Williams is aiming for the NFL Combine and he's getting great coaching from one of the area's all-time great high school and college players, former Strath Haven High and Penn State standout Dan Connor, West Chester's new linebacker coach.
Williams is so hungry to get better he'll text Connor at 11:30 at night to go over something. He's always on Connor about technique and anticipation. Connor sees a bright future for Williams.
"Ronell can play for anyone in the country, and a talent like him, I told him the second day I was with him that he could have played with anyone I played with at Penn State," Connor said. "Ronell can definitely have a pro future. He just needs the chance. My hope for him is that a team gives him a shot. Once he gets that chance, he'll prove he can play with the best of them."
That's all Williams has ever asked for coming out of Chester, a hardcore area that often swallows its own.
"I wake up every morning grateful for the chance to be playing college football," Williams said. "The lessons I learned in Chester is what made me who I am today. The message I want to send is that you can make it out of Chester, and there is a lot of good things that come from Chester.
"My freshman year, things were a little hazy, getting yelled out and learned. But I stayed strong and no matter what, I gave myself a promise that I would do whatever I have to do to make it. I know I'm playing for so much more than myself. There's my parents, my West Chester football family, all the people from West Chester and Chester that have supported me. I owe a lot of people for where I am."
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