Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Brandon Williams -- A Story in the Making
11/13/2015 | 12:00:00 | Football
By Elizabeth Robinson
SIUSalukis.com
This story appears in the Nov. 14, 2015, game program. The Salukis host No. 6 Illinois State at 2 p.m. CT in Saluki Stadium. Williams is one of 18 seniors who will be honored before the game.
To the Saluki football fan base, senior Brandon Williams is a defensive powerhouse. He's the one that that blocks the kicks. He's the one that puts pressure on the quarterback. He's the one that wears number 82. But there's more to Williams' story than what fans can see from the stands, and that story is still in the making.
In the midst of summer workouts and training camp prior to the 2015 season, Williams spent his down time with his nose buried in books, reading biographies of people like Ronda Rousey or Arnold Schwarzenegger.
"I like reading about interesting people, and I like people telling their own stories," he said.
Williams' story takes place here in Southern Illinois. Williams grew up the youngest of five boys in a tight-knit family. As would be expected with so many boys, being outside, hunting, football and sports in general were the norm.
On Nov. 14, 2009, Williams and his family made the trip to Carbondale, one that they made at least once a week. This one was special though: It was Williams' first time watching a Saluki football game, and the last time SIU played in McAndrew Stadium, ultimately defeating Missouri State to set a then-MVFC record with its 14th-straight league victory. Years later, Williams would be on the field in a Saluki uniform, etching his own name in the MVFC record book.
"I've been coming to Carbondale pretty much all my life, and I wanted to be close to my family so they could watch me play," he said. "My mom, my dad, my grandpa, my brothers -- they all come to the games."
When Williams came to SIU in 2012, his older brother Dalton Morgan was playing tight end for the Salukis. With his guidance, and that of older teammates like Kenny Boatright and Eze Obiora, Williams took the field as a true freshman, playing in 10 games as a nose guard. From there, his Saluki football career took off, with several position changes and crucial plays for the Salukis' defense.
In his time as a Saluki, at nose guard, defensive end, and most recently, outside linebacker, Williams has totaled 91 tackles, including 15.5 for a loss of 104 yards. He also has 8.5 sacks, including a team-high 3.5 this season. Williams is perhaps best known for his ability to get to the ball and block kicks. With five career blocks, three this season alone, Williams is tied for seventh place in MVFC history for career blocked kicks.
"Even before the play starts, I feel like I'm going to block the kick," he said. "I think I'm going to do it. I tell myself, `You're going to block this kick,' and then when it happens it's really exciting, but I expect to do it every time."
Through the high pressure plays, exciting blocked kicks, and even adjusting to new positions, Williams' demeanor remains the same: cool, calm and collected. Blocking kicks is just part of his job. He expects it. It's very matter-of-fact. It's the same with SIU's football team this season, in Williams' opinion. The team knows what's needed to win. Again, it's very matter-of-fact.
"All we have to do is play our game really. It's not that hard," he said. "We don't have to change anything, we just have to stick with what we do and play the whole game, and we're going to win."
He doesn't need to get pumped up; he just needs to play. He doesn't need to say much; he just needs to do his job.
"I just have to read the other team's key and see their formation and what I expect they're going to do, and then just focus. That's it," he said. "I'm pretty focused I'd say, and I have an idea of what's coming."
Off the field, however, Williams is not so matter-of-fact. His story is a bit more abstract; a bit more unclear. Whether it's the jean shorts and Crocs he wears or his intermittent sarcasm, Williams is slightly unexpected and independent.
"I just kind of do my own thing," he said. "I'm not really trying to fit in, I'm just trying to pave my own way."
This weekend on the football field, Williams will look to pave the way to a win against Illinois State in his final home game as a Saluki. Off the field, however, the possibilities for Williams' story are endless.
