By HAUNANI TOMAS
Managing Editor
Showing all signs of discontentment with the Momiji menu, Tyrell Williams closes it. A firm believer in cooked-through foods, Williams settles on chicken katsu. The Salem native prefers burgers to sushi always, his favorite being McMenamin’s bacon cheeseburger for as long as he can remember.
Since the age of seven, Williams was running routes and dreaming of National Football League stardom. Countless drills, practices and circuits later, he is prepped for one of the biggest days of his life: pro day.
Formerly a Philadelphia Eagles fan, his new favorite team has become “whatever team signs me.” In his career at Western, he was named to the GNAC first team thrice, among being named player of the week an innumerable number of times – in addition to being a national track standout.
Distracting himself with smaller matters, Williams tastes the miso soup. His dislike for Japanese cuisine is confirmed. When his chicken katsu arrives, his reaction is anything but that of an empty-stomached man.
“That’s not gonna help me lose any weight,” says Williams. Worrying about shedding a few pounds before pro day is just one of many aspects that have consumed his attention.
When describing Williams, the term “committed to the game” is an understatement.
He is better described as hungry. Hungry for success, hungry to fulfill his dreams, and hungry for more. Always hungry for more. Hungry – all six feet and 200 pounds of him.
On football
“The first time I played football was in second grade; it was flag-football and I sprained my wrist. I pursued college football because I always had a dream of playing in the NFL. Obviously, college was the first step. Once I saw my brother get a scholarship for football, I knew that I wanted to follow his footsteps. If I weren’t playing football, I’d be playing basketball.”
On staying motivated
“My family has always been there, and I want to make sure I can take care of them for the rest of our lives and repay them for everything they’ve done for me. I look up to my dad and brother. They do everything the right way. They’ve always been there for me for everything. They’re great role models.”
On training
“I’ve been working out and doing circuits with [Cori] Metzgar, and I went to New Jersey for 16 days for [NFL Prep]. I did track for a couple of weeks. I’ve just been running routes with Trey [Shimabukuro] and [Oregon State quarterback Sean] Mannion. My shoulder surgery hasn’t really affected my training. I just wasn’t able to run for eight weeks after my surgery.”
On Pro Day
“I haven’t been sleeping well. I had a dream that I ran slow. I’m most excited for the chance to prove myself coming from a small school. I’ve always been a very competitive person. I always want to be great at whatever I do.”
