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Jonah Williams: Part of The Process since Day One
Ben Jones | Editor
Jonah Williams has started since the season opener as a true freshman.
By Gary Cosby Jr., The Tuscaloosa News
Freshman Jonah Williams was the starting right tackle all season for the University of Alabama. He was one of just two freshmen in the starting lineup in the season opener against Southern Cal. He was the first-string right tackle all through fall camp. He was the starter there for the A-Day spring game. He practiced with the starters at right tackle for almost all of spring.
It might seem like the job was his from the day he stepped on campus as an early enrollee. Thatās not how he sees it. He wasnāt ready to consider himself the starting right tackle until he had actually started at right tackle. āThe first snap of the USC gameā was when Williams felt like he had won the job.
He started believing in āThe Processā long before he started believing he was indeed the starter.
āThe more time youāre in āThe Process,ā the better youāre going to be as a person, player, all those things,ā Williams said. āI think that was huge for me.ā
Heās been a huge part of Alabamaās offense this year. Heās one of 12 players who have started all 13 games for the Crimson Tide. Heās been an offensive player of the week, as chosen by the UA coaching staff, eight times, tied for the most of any player not on special teams.
The road to that kind of season started even before he arrived for spring practice. Williams came from Folsom High School in California, a regional powerhouse that also produced Washington quarterback Jake Browning and several other FBS players.
Williams has always faced stiff competition. Alabama was just the next step up.
āThe defense is incredible, obviously,ā he said. āAll those defensive ends: Ryan (Anderson), Tim (Williams), Jon (Allen), Dalvin (Tomlinson), DaāShawn (Hand), Anfernee (Jennings), really anyone over there helps me improve. Itās the āiron sharpens ironā mantra. You canāt get better unless youāre going against the best.ā
The feeling is mutual from the other side of the ball.
āYou couldnāt tell he was a freshman based on how he plays,ā defensive lineman Jonathan Allen said earlier this season. āHeās very technical. He has great technique, physical at the point of attack. ā¦ Heās definitely earned the D-linemenās respect.ā
There was competition from other offensive linemen, too. Williams outlasted fellow five-star recruit Charles Baldwin, who was dismissed at the end of the spring semester. He beat senior Korren Kirven, last yearās backup right tackle, who has since become the starting right guard.
āJonahās played extremely well,ā head coach Nick Saban said earlier this year. āPretty amazing that heās been able to play with the kind of poise and execute the way he has. Heās a very bright guy and really made tremendous amounts of improvements from spring to the fall. Been one of the most consistent players on our entire team. Weāre really pleased. It was an area of concern going in, but heās done an outstanding job for us.ā
Williams wasnāt one to take an overall view on his season or the significance of Alabamaās SEC championship in the locker room in Atlanta last Saturday. He was still enveloped by āThe Process,ā pleased to be part of the moment.
āI donāt really look at the big picture like that,ā Williams said. āI just take it week by week. I think we all have that mentality. We try to be 1-0 every week.ā
Thatās what led him this far.
TideSports.com - Jonah Williams: Part of The Process since Day One
Ben Jones | Editor
Jonah Williams has started since the season opener as a true freshman.
By Gary Cosby Jr., The Tuscaloosa News
Freshman Jonah Williams was the starting right tackle all season for the University of Alabama. He was one of just two freshmen in the starting lineup in the season opener against Southern Cal. He was the first-string right tackle all through fall camp. He was the starter there for the A-Day spring game. He practiced with the starters at right tackle for almost all of spring.
It might seem like the job was his from the day he stepped on campus as an early enrollee. Thatās not how he sees it. He wasnāt ready to consider himself the starting right tackle until he had actually started at right tackle. āThe first snap of the USC gameā was when Williams felt like he had won the job.
He started believing in āThe Processā long before he started believing he was indeed the starter.
āThe more time youāre in āThe Process,ā the better youāre going to be as a person, player, all those things,ā Williams said. āI think that was huge for me.ā
Heās been a huge part of Alabamaās offense this year. Heās one of 12 players who have started all 13 games for the Crimson Tide. Heās been an offensive player of the week, as chosen by the UA coaching staff, eight times, tied for the most of any player not on special teams.
The road to that kind of season started even before he arrived for spring practice. Williams came from Folsom High School in California, a regional powerhouse that also produced Washington quarterback Jake Browning and several other FBS players.
Williams has always faced stiff competition. Alabama was just the next step up.
āThe defense is incredible, obviously,ā he said. āAll those defensive ends: Ryan (Anderson), Tim (Williams), Jon (Allen), Dalvin (Tomlinson), DaāShawn (Hand), Anfernee (Jennings), really anyone over there helps me improve. Itās the āiron sharpens ironā mantra. You canāt get better unless youāre going against the best.ā
The feeling is mutual from the other side of the ball.
āYou couldnāt tell he was a freshman based on how he plays,ā defensive lineman Jonathan Allen said earlier this season. āHeās very technical. He has great technique, physical at the point of attack. ā¦ Heās definitely earned the D-linemenās respect.ā
There was competition from other offensive linemen, too. Williams outlasted fellow five-star recruit Charles Baldwin, who was dismissed at the end of the spring semester. He beat senior Korren Kirven, last yearās backup right tackle, who has since become the starting right guard.
āJonahās played extremely well,ā head coach Nick Saban said earlier this year. āPretty amazing that heās been able to play with the kind of poise and execute the way he has. Heās a very bright guy and really made tremendous amounts of improvements from spring to the fall. Been one of the most consistent players on our entire team. Weāre really pleased. It was an area of concern going in, but heās done an outstanding job for us.ā
Williams wasnāt one to take an overall view on his season or the significance of Alabamaās SEC championship in the locker room in Atlanta last Saturday. He was still enveloped by āThe Process,ā pleased to be part of the moment.
āI donāt really look at the big picture like that,ā Williams said. āI just take it week by week. I think we all have that mentality. We try to be 1-0 every week.ā
Thatās what led him this far.
TideSports.com - Jonah Williams: Part of The Process since Day One
