Lenny Williams: “My work is not done”

When Lenny Williams was eight years old, he saw former San Francisco 49ers’ wide receiver Jerry Rice become the most valuable player in Super Bowl XXIV. As San Francisco went on to defeat the Denver Broncos 55-10, it became clear what he wanted to do-play football.
“Most kids just watched the game,” said Williams’ father, Oscar. “He was actually into the game, paying attention to everything in that game.”
Oscar Williams said that he knew his son was born with a “gift” when as a newborn of only two hours old, Lenny was already trying to push up to support himself.
“I was always proud of him because that showed me that he always had the drive to push himself. I saw it then and I see it now,” Oscar said.
It was that game in 1990 at the Louisiana Superdome that sparked his “gift,” which is probably why he can recant the whole game; including the three touchdowns and seven passes that Rice caught for 148 yards.
“I remember everything,” Williams said. “I knew that I just wanted to be a part of the sport and I paid attention the whole time. I wanted to be Jerry Rice.”
In his attempt to become like Rice, he joined the junior varsity team at Lake Charles-Boston High School in Lake Charles, but a twist of fate landed him on the other side of the ball.
“When I started, I was a wide receiver,” Williams said. “One day, the varsity coach was looking for a defensive player for his team. I wanted to play so badly that I just raised my hand and he picked me up.”
And the rest is history.
Since the his arrival on The Bluff in 1999, the 6’0″, 190-lb. defensive back has proven to be the Jags’ “Ironman,” starting in every game of his collegiate career.
He could have started his college football playing days at the University of Arkansas, where Williams said that he was recruited. But he opted for Southern, where he felt that he could develop into the player he knew he was capable of becoming.
“Lenny is a first-class athlete,” said Jags’ head coach Pete Richardson. “He is going to go out there and do things that deserve respect.”
The game’s respect for Williams has grown. He has received all-conference honors every year he has played. He has been named to the Associated Press I-AA All-America Football Team and in addition to other accolades, he was named the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s 2003 Preseason Player of the Year.
“Lenny has earned the right to be given the honor,” said Jay Roberson, SWAC assistant commissioner.
“He is a leader not only for his team, but for other players in the conference as a whole and his work ethic shows it.”
Although he has been putting up respectable numbers in his first two years as a Jaguar, it was last season’s 72 tackles, six interceptions and 15 passes broken that got him noticed.
He currently has 78 tackles, three interceptions and eight broken passes. Southern defense’s leads the conference in shutting down the opposition on third down conversions and pass defense.
His two touchdowns have contributed to the Southern’s defense’s 15.5 scoring average, which is fifth in the nation.
“If anybody deserves such praise and accolades, it’s Lenny,” said best friend and Jags’ cornerback Eddie Woods. “He has dominated from the start. He is a humble guy who happens to be a mature, hard worker and that’s what makes him great.”
Williams’ performance has earned him an invitation in The Football Network’s inaugural Division I-AA all-star game in December. He was recently invited to participate in the 2004 East-West Shrine Game; a game that gives league scouts birds’-eye view of the nation’s best players. Some have already taken notice.
“It’s Lenny’s maturity and work ethic that separates him from others,” said Dave Razzano, a player scout for the St. Louis Rams. “Here’s a guy that has a chance to play in the league for a while. He is consistent, he has the emotional stability and he makes the right decisions on and off the field. He’s the type of player the league looks for. His mannerisms can be compared to (Rams’ cornerback) Aeneas Williams.”
“I’ve heard that, but those shoes are too big to fill,” Williams said. “He was a great cornerback at Southern and he’s going to go out as one of the greatest cornerbacks to play in the league. I’m just getting started.”
Williams said that he is grateful for the nods of approval that he receives, but the senior who sees himself as a “country boy who didn’t have too much,” is still not satisfied.
Although the team has won this year’s Southern-Grambling State match up, he said that Southern’s final game in Birmingham would be the final test.
“My work isn’t done. I have a goal. My team has a goal,” Williams said. “Our goal is to get to that title. It’s a big challenge and I’m going to be tested. But I am ready. That‘s why I work so hard. Because I know it’ll pay off. I was raised to believe that whatever I reap, I will sow and this year, I want the crop to be perfect.”