Can we see some ID?

Thursday, October 16, 1997

Can we see some ID?

FOOTBALL: Shaun Williams, much overlooked, possesses talent that
does not pass by NFL unnoticed

By Brent Boyd

Daily Bruin Staff

Shaun Williams can’t be blamed for being a little bitter.

The coaching staff says he’s the best player on the Bruin
football team, he’s a team captain, and he’s one of the top NFL
prospects in the country.

But on a team that features the nation’s second-rated
quarterback, a tailback who seems to break a scoring record every
other weekend, and an offense that racks up nearly 45 points per
game, it is easy for the club’s defensive leader to get lost in the
shuffle.

So who could blame him if he’s bitter that an article in a local
newspaper said no Bruin star has missed substantial action this
year, despite the fact that Williams – the preseason All-American –
missed two games due to a sprained ankle.

And he can’t be blamed if he was not just a little bitter when a
preseason magazine had a segment – "Can we see some ID?" – listing
the best players in the nation that were not well known by fans,
and he was No. 1.

If anyone should be forgiven for being a little bitter, it’s
Shaun Williams. There’s just one problem … he’s not bitter at
all.

Not that he wouldn’t mind the extra attention – it’s just that
he has more important things on his mind.

"All that glamour stuff really doesn’t really mean anything," he
said. "It on1y matters what you do in between those white lines and
play ball. I could have been rated the best safety ever to play the
game – but it doesn’t really matter.

"All that matters is when you go out there, strap on your
helmet, put on your pads and go to war."

He knows that to become a household name in the defensive
backfield one needs a lot of interceptions, and he only had one in
his four-year career. The "problem" is, he would rather hit
somebody hard than go for the pick.

"I think if I would have gotten more interceptions throughout my
career, then I would have gotten more recognition," Williams said.
"It doesn’t really bother me, because I feel like when scouts and
coaches watch my film they see what I can do, and there’s not going
to be anybody that says I can’t play the game or feel like I’m not
one of the best out there."

That’s the thing – while he may remain in the shadows of Cade
McNown, Skip Hicks and other Bruin superstars in the eyes of the
fans, to the people in the world of college football, Williams is
anything but a secret.

In fact, this week he was invited to participate in both the
Hula Bowl and the East-West Shrine Game – postseason all-star games
for selected seniors.

And although he leads the Bruins with six tackles per game this
season, was third on the team a year ago, and second in 1995, it is
more than just Williams’ tackling ability that is wreaking havoc
for opponents. The 6-foot, 2-inch 205-pound graduate from Crespi
High School in Encino has a little bit of everything.

"He’s got the most God-given talent on the team," UCLA head
coach Bob Toledo said. "He’s got size, he’s got speed, he’s got
quickness, he can jump, he can catch, he’ll hit you, and he can
play both offense and defense."

Oh yeah, that.

He wasn’t even recruited as a safety. Rather, he came in as an
"athlete" and was unsure of where he’d play until midway through
his freshman season.

In fact, his first game action as a Bruin was on the other side
of the line of scrimmage – as a tailback. After playing one game at
tailback (five yards on four carries) he was transferred to the
defensive backfield, and not because of lack of ability.

"He could have been a heck of a tailback," Toledo said. "He’s
just a real talented player."

But, thankfully for the Bruins, the secondary was thin and there
was a log jam at tailback, with such stars as Hicks and Karim
Abdul-Jabaar running all over the place.

Ironically, Williams had always dreamed that his future in
football would be as a tailback.

"I always played both sides of the ball, but running back was
just my main focus," Williams said. "I just think I came here and
it was a sign from God or something to play defensive back. I’m
happy with where I am at."

There’s not much complaint from the Bruin coaching staff either
– he has become the foundation of the secondary corps. And it’s not
just his talent that has come to the forefront this season, but his
leadership skills have been key.

Williams is a third-year starter at free safety, so he is relied
upon and is thus counted on to organize the coverage plan once out
on the field.

"He’s real knowledgeable of the defense," Marc Dove, the
defensive backfield coach, said. "He’s pretty much the
‘on-the-field’ guy for us in the secondary – his experience and
knowledge of what we’re doing really helps."

Williams is responsible for identifying the formation of the
offense when it breaks the huddle and assigning defenders to any
uncovered receivers.

Additionally, as an elected team captain, he takes it upon
himself to make sure that his teammates are motivated and ready to
play.

And he doesn’t always use words to do it – his play and attitude
speak loud enough.

"His biggest influence is his work ethic," starting freshman
cornerback Marques Anderson said. "He makes you want to go and work
hard. Every time we go out there, he is the leader of the
team."

Williams has taken particular interest in Anderson, whom he sees
a little bit of himself within.

"He reminds me a lot of myself when I was young. I still think
he hasn’t really realized his full potential yet and what he could
do if he would just focus on the little things," Williams said. "So
I just try to coach him on those things. I think young guys like
that need a senior or a veteran in the leadership role to enhance
your play."

For Williams, his mentor was former safety/linebacker Abdul
McCullough.

But, in the larger scheme of things, his mentors have been the
past great players in the Bruin secondary – Kenny Easley, James
Washington, Eric Turner, Don Rogers and many more.

This exclusive group of Bruin alumni is particularly tight-knit,
and they have taken Williams under their wing.

"(Washington) said it’s like a family, and these guys are
talking about me and they’ll come to help me out mentally and to
stay focused on the things that I need to do on and off the field,"
Williams said.

He’s actually visited with Washington a few times and hopes
their relationship only grows closer.

"I hope I get a chance to talk to him more as I get closer to
the next level," he said. "I think it’s great for the alumni to
talk to the current players."

If the "experts" are right, Williams will become the next link
of this Bruin pipeline to NFL stardom. He is projected by many as a
mid-to-late first round pick – he currently ranks 15th on draft
guru Mel Kiper Jr.’s top prospects list.

No NFL team could go wrong in drafting Williams, Dove says.

"He’s got good size, good quickness, good speed, he’s got great
knowledge of the game, and he’s hungry, and when they’re paying the
kind of money they are in the NFL nowadays, they’re looking for
guys like that – energy level and all."

To be sure, when draft day comes around next April, it will be a
lifelong goal realized for Williams. Ever since he first took the
field 13 years ago he had always dreamed of playing on Sundays –
cheering for the likes of the Raiders and such safeties as Ronnie
Lott and Steve Atwater.

"Ever since I was 7 years old my dream was to play in the NFL –
I think it’s a dream for everybody who plays football," he
said.

And he knows it is a select few who are fortunate enough to be
drafted, so if the rumors that he has been hearing are true – that
some scouts would rather have him play cornerback in the pros – he
won’t be disappointed.

"I would love to stay at free safety because you are more
involved in the whole game," he said. "But whatever is needed of
me, I’ll do. I just want to play the game."

Size, quickness, speed, leadership and a budding NFL career –
he’s got everything that any football player could ever want …
except for one or two things.

Most importantly, he wants to be playing football in Pasadena on
New Year’s Day.

"Oh, man, words can’t even explain what it would mean for me to
play in the Rose Bowl," Williams said. "That’s big time. That’s
something you can tell your kids about, something you can tell
people for years to come."

And secondly: "My greatest thrill would be an interception
returned for a touchdown."

Imagine that – an interception returned for a touchdown in the
Rose Bowl.

Then maybe, just maybe, Shaun Williams could finally put his ID
card away.

JUSTIN WARREN/Daily Bruin

Team captain Shaun Williams shows off his defensive talent
against the University of Arizona. With Williams’ prowess on the
field, he is one of the nation’s top NFL prospects.