Cameron Williams Committed to Make a Hoosier Difference
7/14/2019 11:45:00 AM | Football
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Cameron Williams isn't messing around. Indiana's freshman linebacker has big goals for this season, and beyond, and he's ready to do whatever it takes.
Case in point -- maximizing his weight room time.
"I want to excel, and improve my quick burst speed," he says. "Become as explosive as anybody in the nation, and beyond."
If that seems bold talk for a guy only a month into his college experience, well, success doesn't come to the meek. You need passion, energy and belief. Elite achievement starts with elite aspirations, and Williams, a 6-3, 215-pound four-star prospect out of northwestern Indiana, found his in the Cream & Crimson way, spearheaded by head coach Tom Allen and defensive coordinator Kane Wommack.
"The coaching staff is amazing," Williams says. "Coach Kane is one of the best DCs in the nation. Coach Allen motivates us every day. Those two are a big part of why I came here.
"When I was being recruited, Coach Wommack was expressing everything he wanted me to do. He made me feel I was part of the team before I was ever here, so I couldn't deny it."
The whole aspect of Hoosier Nation was too big for this Andrean High School standout to pass on.
"It was the fan base. It was everything. I love coming to (IU) games. It was a different atmosphere. I could see guys were hungry to make this team better. I wanted to become part of that. I didn't want to go to a school that was big already. That's old news. I wanted to make a legacy. That's why I came here. I saw lot of committed players who could help me do that."
Williams hopes to return the favor.
"I'm trying to learn the playbook. I want to know everything. So when anybody asks me, I can help. I want to be part of the team and be a big part of why we're winning."
IU linebacker veterans such as Cam Jones, Reakwon Jones and Thomas Allen have left big do-it-right impressions. Fellow freshmen helped ease the adjustment burden. And while coaches can't run practices, they can provide much-needed insight.
"It's been a smooth transition as far as getting used to the defensive playbook, getting used to campus in general," Williams says. "I had help from Coach Wommack and a lot of the players. It's a big bond with all of the freshmen. We've all been helping each other."
As a youth, Williams' speed got him running back opportunity. Eventually he switched to linebacker and based his game on Chicago Bear standouts Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs.
He still retained that speed. He ran hurdles and relays for Andrean, and was fast and athletic enough to qualify for state in the 110-meter hurdles.
Totaling 36 tackles for loss in his final two high school seasons – including a state-leading 15 sacks as a junior -- helped earn him must-get status in Hoosier defensive recruiting plans.
Rivals.com listed Williams as the state's No. 4 prospect and the nation's No. 11 outside linebacker.
He earned all-state honors in his final two seasons. During that stretch he totaled 124 tackles, 17 sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, seven pass breakups and one blocked punt.
Andrean coach Chris Skinner told the Northwest Indiana Times during Williams' December signing day that, "He's a phenomenal football player. He has the rare ability to match his athleticism -- which is well above the (typical) high school athlete -- with the mental side of understanding his responsibilities. So when you put it all together, you end up with a tremendous football player."
And a guy with some very big Hoosier goals.
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Cameron Williams isn't messing around. Indiana's freshman linebacker has big goals for this season, and beyond, and he's ready to do whatever it takes.
Case in point -- maximizing his weight room time.
"I want to excel, and improve my quick burst speed," he says. "Become as explosive as anybody in the nation, and beyond."
If that seems bold talk for a guy only a month into his college experience, well, success doesn't come to the meek. You need passion, energy and belief. Elite achievement starts with elite aspirations, and Williams, a 6-3, 215-pound four-star prospect out of northwestern Indiana, found his in the Cream & Crimson way, spearheaded by head coach Tom Allen and defensive coordinator Kane Wommack.
"The coaching staff is amazing," Williams says. "Coach Kane is one of the best DCs in the nation. Coach Allen motivates us every day. Those two are a big part of why I came here.
"When I was being recruited, Coach Wommack was expressing everything he wanted me to do. He made me feel I was part of the team before I was ever here, so I couldn't deny it."
The whole aspect of Hoosier Nation was too big for this Andrean High School standout to pass on.
"It was the fan base. It was everything. I love coming to (IU) games. It was a different atmosphere. I could see guys were hungry to make this team better. I wanted to become part of that. I didn't want to go to a school that was big already. That's old news. I wanted to make a legacy. That's why I came here. I saw lot of committed players who could help me do that."
Williams hopes to return the favor.
"I'm trying to learn the playbook. I want to know everything. So when anybody asks me, I can help. I want to be part of the team and be a big part of why we're winning."
IU linebacker veterans such as Cam Jones, Reakwon Jones and Thomas Allen have left big do-it-right impressions. Fellow freshmen helped ease the adjustment burden. And while coaches can't run practices, they can provide much-needed insight.
"It's been a smooth transition as far as getting used to the defensive playbook, getting used to campus in general," Williams says. "I had help from Coach Wommack and a lot of the players. It's a big bond with all of the freshmen. We've all been helping each other."
As a youth, Williams' speed got him running back opportunity. Eventually he switched to linebacker and based his game on Chicago Bear standouts Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs.
He still retained that speed. He ran hurdles and relays for Andrean, and was fast and athletic enough to qualify for state in the 110-meter hurdles.
Totaling 36 tackles for loss in his final two high school seasons – including a state-leading 15 sacks as a junior -- helped earn him must-get status in Hoosier defensive recruiting plans.
Rivals.com listed Williams as the state's No. 4 prospect and the nation's No. 11 outside linebacker.
He earned all-state honors in his final two seasons. During that stretch he totaled 124 tackles, 17 sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, seven pass breakups and one blocked punt.
Andrean coach Chris Skinner told the Northwest Indiana Times during Williams' December signing day that, "He's a phenomenal football player. He has the rare ability to match his athleticism -- which is well above the (typical) high school athlete -- with the mental side of understanding his responsibilities. So when you put it all together, you end up with a tremendous football player."
And a guy with some very big Hoosier goals.
Players Mentioned
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