clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Get To Know Your Orange Man - #75 DT Wayne Williams

Wayne Williams comes to SU with a ton of potential but whether or not he can reach it remains to be seen.

By Sean Keeley
Dan Tortora

Name: Wayne Williams

Position: Defensive Tackle

Year: Junior

Height: 6'4"

Weight: 330

Hometown: Brooklyn, NY

High School: Lincoln H.S.

2013 Stats: None, so we'll have to go back to 2012 when, in three games before an injury, he recording 10 tackles, including six solo, four for a loss of 17 yards and three sacks for a loss of 14 yards. As a senior in high school, he was named to the 2011 New York Post All-City First Team, Daily News All-Borough First Team, and MSG Varsity All-Metro First Team.

2014 Projections: Toughie! A lot has been made of Williams's work ethic. He came to SU overweight at 360 and hasn't exactly thrilled coaches with his determination. Williams might be a project this season with the hopes that he blossoms in 2015.

How'd He Get Here: Williams has had a long, winding road to Syracuse. Despite committing in 2011, he didn't qualify academically. So, he enrolled at ASA College but his season was hampered by injuries. He redshirted in his second season there but then took a trimester off to deal with "family problems, stuff like that." He finally qualified last year and his scholarship was right where he left it.

What'd Recruiting Sites Say: Three-stars across the board from Scout, Rivals, ESPN and 24/7.

Money Quote: "From when I first got here, I didn't think I'd make it at all conditioning-wise," Williams said. "They threw me to the train. I feel comfortable. I feel like I can run and it's going to get nothing but better. When football season comes, I'll be ready. I know that for a fact."

Links Of Wonder: For Syracuse defensive tackle Wayne Williams, work ethic doesn't yet match physical gifts

Twitterfeed: None I can find.

Tweets Of Wonder:

What Does Shafer Think Of Him: He's rooting for Wayne...

He needs to continue to get in good condition. He's made good progress, though, and I'm proud of Wayne Williams. He's got a ways to go, but I'm proud of the effort he's put into it. He's had some days where he hasn't reached his goals or the objectives or the standards that we ask of the kids at all those positions, but as long as he's fighting a good fight, I'm going to support him all the way, and he's made it through phase 1 here, and now we've got to get to phase 2, being summer conditioning and summer preparation and working your butt off when the coaches aren't around, and then when we get into that August mode, I look forward to seeing a new and improved Wayne Williams, and I'm very confident that we will.

Interesting Nugget O'Interest: Williams established three goals for himself when he committed to Syracuse.

1. Solidify a starting spot on the defensive line.
2. Defeat Penn State in the Aug. 31 season opener at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
3. Become a first-team All-ACC selection and first-team All-America choice.

Let's Get A Good Look Atcha:

Next Up In Syracuse Football