CCBoy
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 53,028
- Reaction score
- 25,008
Slendid Sprinter: Thinking long-term with sprinter Williams
by Joseph Garcia
DC.com
http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/news.cfm?id=249730D1-A8F8-9A6F-2CC46CA3F87D5C0D
SAN ANTONIO - For any high school football player from East Texas, the chance to play for the Dallas Cowboys would be a dream come true. The same can be said for former University of Texas-San Antonio track star Teddy Williams, who signed with the team Thursday.
"It was a great day, my first day out in a while," Williams said. "Working with coach (Dave) Campo and everyone believing in me and trusting in me and the older guys working with me, knowing that I am not really a DB. It's going to take a little time, but I am going to work at it and get it perfected."
The 6-3, 198-pound Williams was a four-time All-American sprinter at UTSA. He ran a wind-aided 9.90-second 100 meters in 2009, and has reportedly been clocked at 4.31 seconds in the 40-yard dash.
He also helped lead the Roadrunners to six Southland Conference Championships (four indoor/two outdoor) from 2007-10. Williams claimed nine personal Southland titles (five indoor/four outdoor) and was twice named the league's Indoor Athlete of the Year (2009-10) as well as Outdoor Outstanding Track Performer (2008, '10).
Williams, who worked out for the Cowboys earlier this week, last played football as a wide receiver at John Tyler High School in Tyler, Texas. Williams' high school football career was cut short when he broke his ankle in the fourth game of his senior season. If not for his misfortune, he said he would have attended a Big 12 school most likely because he had plenty of offers on the table.
"I had a few nice, big colleges recruiting me out of high school, a lot of Big 12 schools. I was going to decide to go to one of those, but it just didn't pan out," Williams said.
When talking about the new acquisition, head coach Wade Phillips referred to him as "the Splendid Sprinter," a reference to one of baseball's greatest hitters, Boston's Ted Williams, the "Splendid Splinter."
Phillips said Williams' speed they will try to work with him and see what he can do.
The Cowboys have been notorious throughout the years for finding guys from small schools, such as Larry Allen from Sonoma State, and also recruiting guys who competed in other sports, like Pete Gent who played basketball at Michigan State. So, how did the Cowboys find this guy?
"We just heard about Teddy and his background," Tom Ciskowski, Cowboys Director of College and Pro Scouting said. "He did play high school football. We just kind of followed him and knew we were training here (in San Antonio). He's very, very fast. We just thought a guy that big and that fast is the type of guy you want to develop. We'll just see what happens."
As for his chances to make the team this year: "It'll be tough for a guy like that because he's competing against guys that played four and five years of college football," Ciskowski said.
"It'll be difficult for him to make the 53-man roster. All we're looking for is a guy that maybe shows some flashes and can do some things. But he's probably a 2-3 year project. I think the practice squad is the best-case scenario."
Ciskowski said the reason for bringing him in to try out at cornerback and not wide receiver is because there are 5-9 and 5-10 corners coming out every year and it is hard to find big corners.
"We're going to try him at corner first and if it doesn't work, we might look at him at receiver. Plus, we're pretty stocked at receiver. So you want to give the kid a legitimate chance."
Fortunately for Williams, the veterans on this team immediately accepted him after he had some skepticism about how he would be received.
"All of the veterans, offense and defense, have motivated me and they believe in me. I've been here probably two days and they already trust me. They heard about what I did in track, but they trust me in football and I've come to help this team in any way I can. Terence is a great person to look up to; he is great on the field and great off of the field, so I couldn't look up to anyone better at this point," Williams said.
Newman specifically was seen working with Williams on the sidelines of practice.
"He (Terrence Newman) was just working with me on my footwork and he told me it was a good first day. He was proud of me cause my footwork was a little rusty. But he worked with me, gave me some techniques and (I'm) moving forward," Williams said.
Williams knows he is a long shot to make the team but is just happy to be here playing football and embraces the opportunity.
"Football has always been my heart and my love. Track really helped me progress as person, as an athlete and competing throughout the four years I was at UTSA," Williams said. "So coming back to football is a great feeling. (It's nice) being out here with the guys and (having) them believe in me to do something special to help this team get to a Super Bowl.
"It's just an opportunity that I was presented with by the Cowboys and the office and the staff of the Cowboys organization. They gave me an opportunity and they said they really would love to have me on the team, so it was an opportunity I couldn't pass up
by Joseph Garcia
DC.com
http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/news.cfm?id=249730D1-A8F8-9A6F-2CC46CA3F87D5C0D
SAN ANTONIO - For any high school football player from East Texas, the chance to play for the Dallas Cowboys would be a dream come true. The same can be said for former University of Texas-San Antonio track star Teddy Williams, who signed with the team Thursday.
"It was a great day, my first day out in a while," Williams said. "Working with coach (Dave) Campo and everyone believing in me and trusting in me and the older guys working with me, knowing that I am not really a DB. It's going to take a little time, but I am going to work at it and get it perfected."
The 6-3, 198-pound Williams was a four-time All-American sprinter at UTSA. He ran a wind-aided 9.90-second 100 meters in 2009, and has reportedly been clocked at 4.31 seconds in the 40-yard dash.
He also helped lead the Roadrunners to six Southland Conference Championships (four indoor/two outdoor) from 2007-10. Williams claimed nine personal Southland titles (five indoor/four outdoor) and was twice named the league's Indoor Athlete of the Year (2009-10) as well as Outdoor Outstanding Track Performer (2008, '10).
Williams, who worked out for the Cowboys earlier this week, last played football as a wide receiver at John Tyler High School in Tyler, Texas. Williams' high school football career was cut short when he broke his ankle in the fourth game of his senior season. If not for his misfortune, he said he would have attended a Big 12 school most likely because he had plenty of offers on the table.
"I had a few nice, big colleges recruiting me out of high school, a lot of Big 12 schools. I was going to decide to go to one of those, but it just didn't pan out," Williams said.
When talking about the new acquisition, head coach Wade Phillips referred to him as "the Splendid Sprinter," a reference to one of baseball's greatest hitters, Boston's Ted Williams, the "Splendid Splinter."
Phillips said Williams' speed they will try to work with him and see what he can do.
The Cowboys have been notorious throughout the years for finding guys from small schools, such as Larry Allen from Sonoma State, and also recruiting guys who competed in other sports, like Pete Gent who played basketball at Michigan State. So, how did the Cowboys find this guy?
"We just heard about Teddy and his background," Tom Ciskowski, Cowboys Director of College and Pro Scouting said. "He did play high school football. We just kind of followed him and knew we were training here (in San Antonio). He's very, very fast. We just thought a guy that big and that fast is the type of guy you want to develop. We'll just see what happens."
As for his chances to make the team this year: "It'll be tough for a guy like that because he's competing against guys that played four and five years of college football," Ciskowski said.
"It'll be difficult for him to make the 53-man roster. All we're looking for is a guy that maybe shows some flashes and can do some things. But he's probably a 2-3 year project. I think the practice squad is the best-case scenario."
Ciskowski said the reason for bringing him in to try out at cornerback and not wide receiver is because there are 5-9 and 5-10 corners coming out every year and it is hard to find big corners.
"We're going to try him at corner first and if it doesn't work, we might look at him at receiver. Plus, we're pretty stocked at receiver. So you want to give the kid a legitimate chance."
Fortunately for Williams, the veterans on this team immediately accepted him after he had some skepticism about how he would be received.
"All of the veterans, offense and defense, have motivated me and they believe in me. I've been here probably two days and they already trust me. They heard about what I did in track, but they trust me in football and I've come to help this team in any way I can. Terence is a great person to look up to; he is great on the field and great off of the field, so I couldn't look up to anyone better at this point," Williams said.
Newman specifically was seen working with Williams on the sidelines of practice.
"He (Terrence Newman) was just working with me on my footwork and he told me it was a good first day. He was proud of me cause my footwork was a little rusty. But he worked with me, gave me some techniques and (I'm) moving forward," Williams said.
Williams knows he is a long shot to make the team but is just happy to be here playing football and embraces the opportunity.
"Football has always been my heart and my love. Track really helped me progress as person, as an athlete and competing throughout the four years I was at UTSA," Williams said. "So coming back to football is a great feeling. (It's nice) being out here with the guys and (having) them believe in me to do something special to help this team get to a Super Bowl.
"It's just an opportunity that I was presented with by the Cowboys and the office and the staff of the Cowboys organization. They gave me an opportunity and they said they really would love to have me on the team, so it was an opportunity I couldn't pass up
