Senior scraps RB backup role to be defense’s ‘Show Time’
COLLEGE STATION — Senior Brandon Williams, a Johnny-comelately to cornerback for Texas A&M, has pleased his coaches by picking up the finer points of the position in camp.
But there was one thing missing for the former running back, an overlooked aspect of playing cornerback he quickly remedied with a swath of tape and a black marker: bluster.
During a recent practice, Williams showed up with “Show Time” scrawled across the back of his jersey, where a last name would normally go on a game top. So has it been “show time” for the swift, slender former Brookshire Royal standout who spent his first four years of college (including a redshirt) carrying the ball?
Absolutely, to his coaches.
“He’s competitive, and he’s passionate,” A&M secondary coach Terry Joseph said of Williams, who transferred to A&M from Oklahoma three years ago after he was
according rated a five-star running back out of high school in 2011. “The hardest part now is teaching him the little details of being a defensive player.”
Williams, who hasn’t been made available for interviews this summer, also has learned from a veteran in cornerback De’Vante Harris, who has spent the summer tutoring his fellow senior.
“It’s worked out perfectly, because De’Vante has played so many snaps, he’s a sounding board for Brandon,” Joseph said. Looking good
Williams (6-0, 205) will be tested from the start, considering A&M takes on Arizona State, No. 16 in the preseason coaches poll, on Sept. 5 in NRG Stadium in the Texas Kickoff. Will he be ready after not even playing cornerback in spring drills?
“That’s our plan,” Joseph said. “When we made the move, that’s what we thought would happen, and this summer he’s done as much as he can do (to learn cornerback). He’s really been everything we’ve wanted, and more. Now it’s just about fine-tuning everything as we get into the season.”
New defensive coordinator John Chavis, hired from LSU, has emphasized the role of cornerbacks and ends in his aggressive scheme. Meaning Williams will have to be on top of his game from the start.
“He’s learning, and he’s a sponge who wants to know everything he can about playing the position,” Chavis said. “There won’t be many guys who line up at that position more talented than him. He has to gain some experience, but he’s a confident young man.” ‘A physical presence’
The coaches shifted Williams to cornerback because of a lack of depth, and while Harris should have one side locked down as a three-year starter, Joseph said sophomore Nick Harvey has had a “tremendous camp” and is in the mix for plenty of playing time this fall.
“He’s come in and really competed, and made it a tough deal for Brandon to come in and take snaps away from him,” Joseph said. “You knew Nick had great ability (out of Fort Bend Travis), but when you go from high school to college, especially in a big conference like the SEC, the guys you’re going against have just as much athletic ability as you have.
“Nick had to be more consistent with the speed of the game, and coming into training camp he’s done a good job of that.”
While Williams hasn’t taken any snaps at running back in camp, coaches haven’t ruled him out as the season presses on. A&M will rely on senior Tra Carson, sophomore James White and freshman Kendall Bussey at running back.
“We’ll always have the ability to bring Brandon back if we need him,” A&M running backs coach Clarence McKinney said. “He can still be a third guy and if we need him in a game he knows the system.”
Now he knows A&M’s system on both sides of the ball, and fourth-year coach Kevin Sumlin said that knowledge might prove beneficial to Williams professionally as well.
“Brandon is a guy who, at 6-foot and 200 pounds, was kind of an average size for a running back,” Sumlin said. “He’s a physical presence (at cornerback), and he’s not afraid. He’s extremely talented and he can really, really help us defensively, and really help himself in life.
“He’s got the physical ability to play in the NFL; we’ll see what’s going to happen.”