| Page 2 of 3 < > |
The Chase Is On: Colleges Pursue Another Williams
Chase Williams, a junior linebacker-tight end, stayed after his father was hired by the Jacksonville Jaguars.
(By Tracy A Woodward -- The Washington Post)
TOOLBOX
   Resize
COMMENT
 Discussion Policy
 CLOSE
Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.
Who's Blogging  |
And when his dad first came to Washington, he and Blake worked with the Redskins. For Chase, that meant doing odd jobs ranging from working with the training staff to picking up equipment to helping with laundry.
"It was a fun way to keep me and my brother around my dad as much as possible with his busy schedule growing up," Williams said. "They were getting an extra worker out of it that they didn't have to pay [and] to me it was fun. I was getting to be around some of the best athletes in the world and that was fun to me."
The influence of those early days around the game, as well as that of his father and Blake, who played defensive back at Princeton and whom Chase Williams called "one of my biggest heroes, my biggest role models in life," has been integral in the development of the teenager into one of the area's top players.
Williams said he often seeks advice from his father and brother on how to improve, and said his father likely will keep tabs on him this season by watching game film.
"He's a great father, but he's also a coach and it's great to have somebody at home that can point out these mistakes and also encourage me and help me figure them out on my own," said Chase Williams, who wears No. 21 in homage to late Redskins safety Sean Taylor.
And while his father's experience has helped in his development, Williams's passion for the game seems to come from within.
"I've always loved the game whether my dad coaches it or not," he said. "That doesn't affect what I love in my heart. It's just something I've always wanted to do and I've always loved being around."
Last season, as a sophomore at Loudoun County, Williams led the Raiders offensively and defensively, garnering all-district nods at linebacker and tight end. Mike Burnett, coach at AA Dulles District rival and district champion Broad Run, said Williams kept the then-winless Raiders in the game against the undefeated Spartans.
"As a tight end," he said, shaking his head and laughing.
Williams will continue to play on both sides of the ball for the Raiders, whose season opens tomorrow at Musselman (W.Va.).
Raw talent is one thing, but Williams also has an understanding of the game that few players have. Loudoun County Coach Todd Hill calls him "one of the most intelligent football players that I have ever been around."
"I feel like it runs in the family," Williams said, smiling. "And it also doesn't hurt having an NFL coach at home to go home and ask questions to."
