DeAngelo Williams to speak at Sports Awards
DeAngelo Williams stood behind east end zone of Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Saturday night, a headset over his long locks of hair and a notecard full of diagrammed plays in one hand. The former Memphis running back was getting ready to serve as a guest coach during the football program’s Friday Night Lights spring game, and he only had one rule in mind concerning his play-calling duties. He wasn’t going to call any run plays. That, Williams explained, is where he believes the majority of injuries occur during football practices.
“I’m coaching this for all these guys to stay healthy,” Williams said with a laugh. “They’re all Tigers in the end.”
Williams will be the guest speaker at the 2018 Commercial Appeal Sports Awards presented by Farm Bureau Health Plans on June 5 at The Orpheum. The event will recognize and honor the top athletic accomplishments in Memphis high school sports.
Williams is the all-time leading rusher in school history and gained more than 8,200 yards over 11 seasons in the NFL with the Carolina Panthers and Pittsburgh Steelers.
The former Tiger star lives in Charlotte and remains an ardent support of all things Memphis. He’s happy to see the football team’s rise in recent years under coaches Justin Fuente and Mike Norvell.
“Coach Fuente and Norvell have gotten that opportunity to stick around for more than two or three years,” Williams said, “to cycle their players in, put in their offense, establish their defense and play the way that they want to play with the luxury of not having the AD or president breathing down their neck. Now, basketball has to do that.”
Williams has dabbled in several pursuits since last playing football in 2016. He runs The DeAngelo Williams Foundation, which focuses on the eradication of breast cancer and the promotion of child literacy. He also serves as a motivational speaker. And, on at least two occasions, he’s been a professional wrestler.
Williams wrestled in a June event for Impact Wrestling and earned rave reviews for his performance. He also appeared during this year’s Wrestling Night for the Memphis Grizzlies.
Williams said WWE showed interest in him, but the Wynne, Ark., native decided pro wrestling was, “just a onetime thing.” He remains, however, a huge pro wrestling fan and once again attended Wrestlemania earlier this month.
This diversity in interests highlighted Williams’ high school athletic career. In addition to football, he played basketball and competed in track and field. He took a pragmatic approach that still serves him well today.
“It helped me with football because I worked on my speed in track,” Williams said. “I worked on my footwork in basketball. And it all came together and helped me in football.”