Some college players have a hard time waiting when their name doesn't get called as early as they expect during the NFL draft.
Given D.J. Williams' personal story, that hardly qualifies as adversity.
Williams survived a difficult childhood to become a standout tight end at Arkansas. Now he's a member of the Green Bay Packers after the Super Bowl champions took him in the fifth round on Saturday.
"We've been through a lot as a family," Williams said. "We've come a long way, pretty much from nothing to where we are now. Just hearing my name called today, getting the phone call from the Green Bay Packers was an awesome moment."
Having won the John Mackey Award as the nation's top tight end this year, Williams didn't expect to wait this long. He thought he might have gone as early as the second round, but realized that his less-than-ideal size for a tight end—6-2, 251 pounds— and other perceived deficiencies in speed and strength might have hurt his stock with NFL scouts.
"They always says I look a lot bigger on TV," Williams said. "And I think that's just because I play big. So I'm excited to see what happens."
Williams was especially surprised when the Miami Dolphins passed on him in the fourth round.
"That's who I thought was really interested and I was surprised they didn't pick me, but I feel like I'm in a great situation now," Williams said. "What better place? One of the best quarterbacks in
the league throwing the ball."Williams was one of four offensive players the Packers took with their first five picks.
Green Bay took offensive players with its first three picks Thursday and Friday, then finally went defense on Saturday when they picked New Mexico State cornerback Davon House with their compensatory pick in the fourth round.
House has been a starter since his freshman year, with 11 interceptions in 49 games. He enters a crowded Packers secondary, where Charles Woodson, Tramon Williams and Sam Shields form a formidable cornerback trio.
House tried to pattern his game after one of his new teammates—not Woodson, but Williams.
"I just watched him all last year and what he does is amazing," House said. "He's a ballhawk and that's what I feel like I believe I am, a ballhawk, too, and I'm excited.
The Packers traded down three times Saturday. But the most intriguing pick was Williams, who said his life turned around when his family left what he described as an abusive situation when he was in fourth grade.
"We lived in shelters for a while but when we moved into our home and sat there that first night with no furniture in it, but the fact that it was our home in our new life that we're starting, that's when it all kind of turned around," Williams said. "We have a clean slate, and we can make what we want out of it. With our strong mother and our strong family, we can do what we want."
Now he wants to use his stature as an athlete to speak out about domestic violence.
"I think sports gives us athletes a platform to raise awareness for situations that need to be (raised)," Williams said. "Mine was domestic violence, and I had a platform where if I said something, a lot of people would hear it. I thought it was something that could help people out in the long run."
On the field, Williams joins a team already stocked with tight ends—including standout Jermichael Finley, who will be returning from an injury.
"What better person to learn from?" he asked?
Packers tight ends coach Ben McAdoo expects big things from Williams.
"He may not have the best measurables, he may not be the tallest guy, he may not be the longest guy, he may not be the fastest guy, but when you turn on the tape he's one of the best players on the field," McAdoo said.
For now, Williams would like to celebrate with his family. But the NFL remains under a lockout and Williams doesn't have much money, so he suggested they might go to McDonald's.
Even when Williams is able to sign, he knows he won't be able to live extravagantly—but he'd still like to do something to help his mother.
"Being a fifth-rounder, you don't have 50 million bucks to spend," Williams said. "I just want to get her out of the neighborhood that we are currently in in Little Rock, put her somewhere nice, where she doesn't have to worry about, did she lock the door every night."
Given D.J. Williams' personal story, that hardly qualifies as adversity.
Williams survived a difficult childhood to become a standout tight end at Arkansas. Now he's a member of the Green Bay Packers after the Super Bowl champions took him in the fifth round on Saturday.
"We've been through a lot as a family," Williams said. "We've come a long way, pretty much from nothing to where we are now. Just hearing my name called today, getting the phone call from the Green Bay Packers was an awesome moment."
Having won the John Mackey Award as the nation's top tight end this year, Williams didn't expect to wait this long. He thought he might have gone as early as the second round, but realized that his less-than-ideal size for a tight end—6-2, 251 pounds— and other perceived deficiencies in speed and strength might have hurt his stock with NFL scouts.
"They always says I look a lot bigger on TV," Williams said. "And I think that's just because I play big. So I'm excited to see what happens."
Williams was especially surprised when the Miami Dolphins passed on him in the fourth round.
"That's who I thought was really interested and I was surprised they didn't pick me, but I feel like I'm in a great situation now," Williams said. "What better place? One of the best quarterbacks in
the league throwing the ball."Williams was one of four offensive players the Packers took with their first five picks.
Green Bay took offensive players with its first three picks Thursday and Friday, then finally went defense on Saturday when they picked New Mexico State cornerback Davon House with their compensatory pick in the fourth round.
House has been a starter since his freshman year, with 11 interceptions in 49 games. He enters a crowded Packers secondary, where Charles Woodson, Tramon Williams and Sam Shields form a formidable cornerback trio.
House tried to pattern his game after one of his new teammates—not Woodson, but Williams.
"I just watched him all last year and what he does is amazing," House said. "He's a ballhawk and that's what I feel like I believe I am, a ballhawk, too, and I'm excited.
The Packers traded down three times Saturday. But the most intriguing pick was Williams, who said his life turned around when his family left what he described as an abusive situation when he was in fourth grade.
"We lived in shelters for a while but when we moved into our home and sat there that first night with no furniture in it, but the fact that it was our home in our new life that we're starting, that's when it all kind of turned around," Williams said. "We have a clean slate, and we can make what we want out of it. With our strong mother and our strong family, we can do what we want."
Now he wants to use his stature as an athlete to speak out about domestic violence.
"I think sports gives us athletes a platform to raise awareness for situations that need to be (raised)," Williams said. "Mine was domestic violence, and I had a platform where if I said something, a lot of people would hear it. I thought it was something that could help people out in the long run."
On the field, Williams joins a team already stocked with tight ends—including standout Jermichael Finley, who will be returning from an injury.
"What better person to learn from?" he asked?
Packers tight ends coach Ben McAdoo expects big things from Williams.
"He may not have the best measurables, he may not be the tallest guy, he may not be the longest guy, he may not be the fastest guy, but when you turn on the tape he's one of the best players on the field," McAdoo said.
For now, Williams would like to celebrate with his family. But the NFL remains under a lockout and Williams doesn't have much money, so he suggested they might go to McDonald's.
"Being a fifth-rounder, you don't have 50 million bucks to spend," Williams said. "I just want to get her out of the neighborhood that we are currently in in Little Rock, put her somewhere nice, where she doesn't have to worry about, did she lock the door every night."
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