ESKIMOS RECEIVER MAKING THE MOST OF SECOND CHANCE
D’haquille Williams — Duke to just about everyone — has done a decent job of outrunning CFL defensive backs this season. Outrunning his past, however, is proving to be more troublesome.
“I don’t regret nothing that happened,” said the 24-year-old rookie receiver with the Edmonton Eskimos. “It happened. It makes no sense to regret it. I’ve done it. I can’t take it back. Why should I?”
Williams is brutally honest and polite. He has admitted to being immature and reckless, for being late to practices and squandering what appeared to be his golden egg.
When the 6-foot-3, 225-pound phenom left Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, he was named an all-American and tabbed as the top-ranked junior college receiver in the U.S. after producing 2,028 yards and 26 touchdowns in two seasons. He was called a “once in a lifetime player” by former Auburn receivers coach Dameyune Craig.
“He’ll be a rich man one day if he stays on the straight and narrow,” said his high school coach, Larry Dauterive.
But when Williams came to that proverbial fork in the road, he took the wrong path.
Born in Los Angeles, his family moved to LaPlace, La., at a young age. Despite getting a relatively late start to football, Williams proved to be a natural and committed to Louisiana State University. But, like many innercity youths, he was raised in a crime-filled environment.
When his cousin, Kyrian Gray, was shot and killed at a house party in 2013 at age 16, Williams withdrew his commitment to LSU, believing it was too close to home. He decided Auburn, about 640 kilometres away, might be the tonic he required.
In his first game, against Arkansas, Williams caught nine passes for 154 yards and scored once. If only he could have remained on that track.
In December 2014, Williams was suspended from the Outback Bowl by head coach Gus Malzahn, citing a violation of team rules. During his absence, Williams posted a photo of himself with what appeared to be a black eye. He was suspended again for six days the following August.
The third, and final, strike occurred two months later. After being ejected from a bar outside campus, Williams reportedly punched four people and fractured the jaw of teammate Xavier Dampeer. Dampeer’s season was over. Williams was dismissed from the team, putting his career in jeopardy.
Williams, who underwent counselling, has taken responsibility for his transgressions. And continues to do so two years later.
“I’m in college ... young ... I wasn’t responsible,” he said. “There’s consequences to everything and I paid for the consequences. I went from one of the tops to basically nobody. From here to there in the matter of a year and a half. It’s all on me.”
Before being released from his college team, Williams had only 12 catches for 147 yards and a touchdown in five games. At the NFL combine, he ran the 40-yard sprint in 4.72 seconds — the second-slowest time among receivers. No NFL team was willing to risk a draft pick on the once heralded prospect.
Williams was signed to a threeyear contract by the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted free agent in May 2016, but was waived four months later when the team made its final roster cuts.
His last chance at a pro career rested with the Eskimos, who had placed him on their negotiation list. Williams attended the team’s three-day mini-camp last spring in Las Vegas, where he kept making plays. Edmonton signed him, and he improved on a daily basis at training camp.
Eskimos general manager Brock Sunderland said the team changed its import ratio to get Williams activated.
“We couldn’t keep a guy this talented off the field,” he said.
“Sometimes they flash. They do great at mini-camp or training camp. Then they’re not the same guy. He not only was the same, he kept getting better and better.”
Williams is hardly the first player to arrive in the CFL with a checkered past. But this is a league renowned for giving players second chances. Sunderland, a former Alouettes scout, did his homework and checked with Rams’ front office personnel. There were no red flags.
“Since he’s been here, he’s been incredible. He’s always in an upbeat mood, smiling,” Sunderland said. “He’s a true team guy, good in the locker room. If anything, he’s overly polite. If you read the stuff and meet him, you wonder, is this even the same guy?”
Williams launched his CFL career by catching four passes for 110 yards and scoring a touchdown against B.C. He has recorded three more 100-yard games since — although none since Aug. 25, against Saskatchewan — and comes into Monday’s game against Montreal with 42 receptions for 652 yards (15.5-yard average) and three touchdowns in 11 games. He’s the Eskimos’ second-leading receiver.
Williams is young enough to potentially get another NFL look. If not, he said he’s content remaining in Edmonton, thankful for the opportunity. And wiser.
“It’s been very humbling and I’ll never take this for granted again,” he vowed. “I can’t. As soon as you get comfortable in the situation, that’s when things start going south.”