Phytrell Williams wasn’t going to let an injury prevent him from realizing his dream.
Watching from the sidelines as his teammates played Heritage Academy on Aug. 30, Williams looked forlorn as he contemplated a season that began with a promising victory against Montgomery County.
But after missing four games with a knee injury, Williams was back on the field filling a familiar role on as a leader on the West Lowndes High School football team’s defense.
“Phytrell, when healthy, is just as good as anybody,” West Lowndes football coach Anthony King said. “He runs a 4.5 40-yard dash. He is real aggressive and smart. As long as he stays healthy and stays in the weight room, he will be as good as anybody.”
Williams made enough of an impact in his six games to impress coach Chris Mattox, who at the time was at Hinds Community College. When Mattox left Hinds C.C. to go to Coahoma C.C. in Clarksdale, Williams had an opportunity to follow him. On Wednesday, Williams took advantage of that chance and signed a National Letter of Intent to play football for the Tigers.
“We knew Phytrell’s sophomore year he was going to be pretty good,” King said. “He started for us there and got a lot of time. He had a real good junior year, and a lot of people were watching his highlight tape. Pretty much every junior college came around and wanted him. Coming down the stretch, coach Mattox wanted him real bad at Hinds, but once he took the job at Coahoma, I told him, ‘Phytrell, you always want to go where you are wanted the most.’ ”
King said Williams was a leader on a young defense. He said he was instrumental in energizing the Panthers when he was on the field and his absence was a big void to fill on a squad without a lot of depth.
Williams averaged nearly eight tackles a game this past season for the Panthers, a Class 1A school. Williams said he visited the campus last month and liked it, even though it three hours away from Columbus.
“It is a good distance, but I have to go make that money for my momma,” Williams said. “I thought it was too far, but (my family) didn’t.”
Williams smiled and said he is a “momma’s boy,” so he doesn’t know what it will be like being that far away from home. On the football field, Williams doesn’t shy away from showing another personality. He said he doesn’t show any “remorse” and loves to deliver popping hits that motivate his teammates.
“It’s a big step, but I have to make the best of it and go down there and do my job,” Williams said. “It is going to b a challenge, but I am ready to take it on.”
King believes Williams’ athleticism will help him transition to the next level. He hopes Williams’ signing will be motivation for younger players in the program.
“It is a testament to the other guys to work harder and know that you can come to West Lowndes and sign on the first day if you do the things you are supposed to do, like stay in the weight room and be coachable,” King said.
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor.
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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