Tigers punter Williams aims to continue standard
Adam Williams showed up to his first Memphis practice last year and a few of his teammates could not believe he was a punter.
At 6-foot-5, 210 pounds, Williams looked far different what you expect from a typical kicker.
“We thought he was a center,” linebaker Curtis Akins said.
Williams has now grown to 243 pounds and looks like he could line up in tight end drills with Joey Magnifico and Sean Dykes. But, he’s never played any other position. At Wilson Central High School in Lebanon, he was a state semifinalist for Mr. Football Kicker of the Year.
“We used to have 7-on-7s and one time they let me play quarterback,” Williams said. “I didn’t throw any interceptions, so I guess it wasn’t too bad.”
Williams has emerged as the leader to fill the punting shoes left behind by Spencer Smith and Nick Jacobs. The spring saw him battle with junior Aidan Daily after redshirting last season.
With Daily no longer on the team, Williams has earned high praise for his big leg from head coach Mike Norvell and special teams coordinator Joe Lorig.
“I think he might be one of the most talented punters I’ve ever been around,” Norvell said. “That’s saying a lot for a guy that’s going to be a redshirt freshman. His consistency is much better than what it was in the spring.”
Lorig has worked with punters the same size as Williams and said his long legs only add to the power in his kicks.
William’ build is similar to Los Angeles Rams punter Johnny Hekker, who has made four All-Pro teams and is regarded among the NFL’s best at his position.
Lorig added Williams also has great accuracy but said more time will be needed to get him acclimated to pressure situations.
“We just have to develop him and see how he performs on the big stage. That’s the big question because he hasn’t been in that situation,” Lorig said.
Williams said he used last season to learn different things from both punters ahead of him. From Jacobs, he learned the Australian rugby style of punting, where punters take a few steps to the left or right before kicking.
He called Smith “one of the most technically sound punters I’ve ever been around” and he didn’t hesitate to pick his brain to refine his technique.
Even if Williams doesn’t look like your typical punter, he’s prepared to be one on the field knowing Memphis has produced its share of dynamic kickers.
“It’s a high standard here but we’re going to keep it up,” Williams said.
Tigers no longer on the roster
In addition to Daily, here are the Tigers no longer listed on the fall roster since the spring. RB De’Andre Alexander (Fr.) LB Chase Burdette (So.) LS Connor Choate (So. - transferred to Texas A&M)
QB Brady Davis (Jr. - transferred to Illinois State) LB Bradley Jones (Fr.) DB Quindon Lewis (Fr.) WR Shane McFarland (Sr.) LB Brandon Parker (Fr.) TE Fred Walls (Jr.) DB Jerome Ward (Jr.) OL Ryan Young (So.)