'14 JUCO WR D'haquille Williams

#103
#103
SCtiger said:
Difficult to say what he does. He is an elite player but he has the emotions of a Kim Kardishian.
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:rock:
I am not surprised, but agree with you on your second statement 100%.

It would have been nice to have him for next year but in the end, I think LSU end up with the a very good WR class or close to it. LSU coaches knew after they visited him after Auburn beat Alabama.
 
#105
#105
Obviously it would be great to flip this kid, but im not worried at all. Pearson is gonna be just as productive, if not more.
 
#114
#114
Phat-Phil said:
I'm with you, I really don't get this one at all.
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Here is one explanation -

Top JUCO prospect D'haquille Williams opts for Auburn to avoid trouble
Written by John Talty
Dec. 18, 2013 10:24 PM |

Mississippi Gulf Coast WR D'haquille Williams had friends and family die recently from gang-related violence. That prompted him to sign with Auburn over his hometown school LSU.

D'haquille Williams was sick of watching his loved ones die.

He was terrified he'd be next.

This summer, Kyrian Gray, who is Williams' 16-year old cousin, was shot and killed at a house party. The Mississippi Gulf Coast star wide receiver has lost two cousins and a close friend in the last year to alleged gang-related violence.

He had reason to believe his life was in danger too.

It's a big reason why the nation's top-ranked junior college player signed with Auburn on Wednesday over LSU, the hometown school that recruited him for years.

"That had a lot of impact on it," Williams said. "Being close to home at LSU, it's like 30 minutes away from home and I know my friends are going to want to come see me. I don't want them getting in trouble and I don't want to get in trouble. ... It's good to get away from home. It was really to stay out of trouble."

Williams didn't have an easy upbringing. He grew up in a tough section of St. John the Baptist Parish in LaPlace, La. He said "a lot of bad things happen down there" and admitted to getting into his share of trouble. His mother wasn't always able to provide for him.

"He comes from a very poor, tough situation," Mississippi Gulf Coast defensive coordinator Steve Davis said. "It's amazing he has the character that he does from what he comes from."

Part of the appeal of Auburn was that it could be his safe haven. He has a teammate, Derrick Moncrief, who also signed with Auburn. He felt comfortable with the coaching staff and campus ? he told Davis it was like a big Mississippi Gulf Coast ? and decided that was the place he needed to be.

"The way they truly cared about him over there and getting away from home was a big deal," Davis said.

The fact Williams had SEC schools fighting over him this year is noteworthy considering he didn't start seriously playing football until his junior year of high school.

But his talent was simply that incredible. In that first year, he made waves when he caught a pass over former LSU star Tyrann Mathieu and took it in for a touchdown.

During his senior season, the 6-foot-3, 215-pound athletic wonder accounted for 1,495 yards and 25 touchdowns. He showed off his versatility by also playing quarterback, safety and defensive end.

"We had (former LSU quarterback) Ryan Perriloux play here. As an athlete, D'haquille was probably better than Ryan," said Ronald Barrilleaux, who coached Williams at East St. John High School. "As long as he has his head on straight, he has all the potential in the world. We've had a lineman play for the Cleveland Browns, guys go to Florida State, LSU and Colorado. He's better than all of those people."

As a non-academic qualifier, he headed to Mississippi Gulf Coast. While still relying mostly on his incredible talent and athleticism, he had 1,295 yards and 17 touchdowns in his freshman year. It didn't take long for scholarship offers to pour in from all over the country.

"He just has tremendous hands," Mississippi Gulf Coast coach Steve Campbell said. "You can throw it anywhere around him and he'll get it.

"He's the biggest, strongest, most physical receiver that's come through here. We've been blessed with some really good ones, but he's more physical and still possess game-breaking speed."

But this season was tougher for him.

The death of his friends and family over the summer took its toll on Williams. He lost weight from stress over the killings. To make matters worse, he was hampered by injuries throughout the season. It wasn't his ideal final season at Gulf Coast, but he still led the team with 51 receptions for 733 yards and nine touchdowns.

He credits two things for getting him through this year: God and his teammates.

He prayed every night for God to give him the strength "to keep my head up."

"When I came back, my teammates picked me up," he said. "They said, 'We are here for you.' But not a day goes by that I don't think about those three. I love those three. I play for them."
 
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#116
#116
Ethan Hooper said:
He's proven that one WR can. I honestly don't know if there is room for multiple good receivers in their offense
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That is true but Malzahn has had passing QB's. Just that Nick Marshall isnt one. But Jonson the guy behind him is a good passer. But it does seem confusing a juco wr would go there with Marshall being the guy next season most likely. I could see a HS WR going but not a top juco guy who is most likely one and done.
 
#120
#120
I don't think being in a run first offense hurts a WR necessarily trying to get to the next level, being in a run first non-pro style offense is a different story.
 
#121
#121
LSU-SIU said:
I don't think being in a run first offense hurts a WR necessarily trying to get to the next level, being in a run first non-pro style offense is a different story.
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No but being in an offense that didn't even attempt a pass some games is different than being just a run first offense.
 
#122
#122
On the field and off, this is the most charmed school in the history of football. Only at Auburn would you luck into landing a kid of this talent because he wanted to GET AWAY from his hometown school for safety reasons.

Lol. You can't make this stuff up.
 
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