CFB: The Highest Level
The main goal for an up and coming football player is to get to the highest level of the game. The highest level happens to be the NFL, and the main avenue to get there is through college football. While college football is far from the perfect system, it does help develop players and get them ready for the league. A prime example of that would be Ross Williams, who played at Eastern Michigan for the past four years before getting invited to the Pittsburgh Steelers' rookie mini-camp last month. Williams was the type of player that got better with each snap and it showed as he became more and more impactful each season. He ended his junior year with 20 solo tackles, 25 total tackles, and one tackle for loss, and continued to grow as he played a career-high 10 games in his senior campaign.
“I was shook at first because I was in disbelief. Then it all came to me that I had a chance to live out my childhood dream. I was so hype. I just remember texting my best friend Kevin McGill the news," Williams said. "My next goal is to make a roster. Having that experience going to a mini camp just makes me hungrier than ever. Since I’ve been at Eastern there has been great competition at the corner spot. Iron sharpens iron,” Williams said. “Guys like Daquan Pace who was an All-MAC corner and went pro, also Kevin (McGill) who was All-MAC and who is going to have his shot at the NFL too. Being around guys like that makes you want to be at a high level. The guys in the corner room since I been there have pushed me to be the best player possible."
Williams will not have the chance to compete at the highest level of football and will continue to pursue his dream of making an NFL roster someday. As for the Steelers, they are going to look a lot different next year than what we've seen over the past few years. They no longer have running back Le'Veon Bell who signed with the New York Jets, and Antonio Brown was traded to the Oakland Raiders after he became publicly frustrated with the organization. Pittsburgh was 9-6-1 last season and finished one game out of the playoff race as the Baltimore Ravens took home the division crown. “I know I belong and have the ability to play football at the highest level. So continue to follow God's plan where ever it takes me,” Williams said.
Photo Credit: Post-Gazette.
