Always the consummate team captain
Safety Sean Williams, a three-year starter, has long been a leader for Mids
When Sean Williams came to the Naval Academy for his official visit, everything just clicked.
Williams spent most of the weekend with another recruit from Tennessee named Andrew Wood and they both attended the 2014 Navy-Notre Dame game at Fed Ex Field. It was an exciting contest and the Midshipmen had the Fighting Irish on the ropes for a while before losing, 49-39.
Williams and his parents had a private meeting with coach Ken Niumatalolo in his spacious office on the third floor of Ricketts Hall that overlooks the Severn River. It was that exact moment the Memphis native decided he would be attending the Naval Academy.
“When we came out of that meeting with Coach Niumat, Junior told me, ‘I’m coming to Navy and I’m going to become a captain here.’ I didn’t doubt that one bit because my son has been the team captain at every level he has played,” Sean Williams Sr. recalled. “That has always been part of his makeup. He is a born leader.”
According to classmates, Williams has carried himself that way since the day he arrived in Annapolis to start plebe summer. Anthony Gargiulo will never forget the time Williams called out an upperclassman even though he was only a sophomore.
“We had a team meeting and one of the older players walked in looking sloppy. His shirt wasn’t tucked in and his shoes were untied,” Gargiulo said. “Sean corrected him on the spot. He was like: ‘What are you doing coming in here looking like that? C’mon man, do it the right way.’ Sean has acted like a captain ever since he got here.”
Williams, a four-year letterman and three-year starter, was an obvious choice to serve as defensive captain when the Navy players voted for that honor last January. That’s because teammates totally respect his relentless work ethic, impeccable character and demand for accountability.
“Sean has always been focused, always been locked in,” senior linebacker Hudson Sullivan said. “He has never been afraid to put his foot down and speak up whenever he sees something that is wrong.”
Williams probably didn’t realize it while growing up, but he was groomed for military life from the beginning. His father served four years in the Army while his grandfather was a Marine.
“Sean was born while I was stationed at Fort Riley in Kansas,” said the elder Sean Williams, who was a quartermaster in the Army. “I have preached discipline, structure and consistency to that boy from day one.”
Sean Williams the midshipman and football player said there is no question he is a reflection of his parents. Sean Sr. is a debt collector who also owns a food truck called “Will’s Steak Out” while Zakrya Williams does financial aid for colleges.
“They are very hardworking people who have done everything for me and I’m extremely blessed to have such great parents,” Williams said. “I hope I have represented my parents well and reflect the investment they have put into me.” on the practice field.
“Sean works harder than anyone else on the team. He is constantly going above and beyond as far as doing extra work,” O’Brien said. “Sean is very intense about wanting to perfect his craft and hone his skills.”
It got to the point that Niumatalolo did not want one of the most valuable members of the defense and the team captain expending so much energy.
“Sean is still out there early every day, but not like last year when he’d have one of his own practice sessions before the rest of us got out there,” Pehrson said. “We’ve had to shut him down sometimes.”
NFL scouts have come through to take a closer look at Williams, O’Brien said. There is a good possibility the two-time honorable mention All-American Athletic Conference selection could be invited to one of the many senior all-star games.
“I think Sean has all the tools to play professionally if given a chance. When you combine the athletic ability with the mental and physical preparation, he is the complete package,” O’Brien said.
O’Brien is only in his fifth season at Navy, but believes Williams deserves to be mentioned alongside the likes of Chris Lepore, Josh Smith, Wyatt Middleton and Parrish Gaines as one of the best safeties Navy’s had in recent history.