Tenoroc High School's DJ Williams produces stellar secondary season

The Tenoroc Titans were positioned in a 5-2 defense. Waiting for the Lake Region 2-by-2 offense to hike the ball, Tenoroc senior safety DJ Williams finally dropped back in coverage as the ball was snapped.

Lake Region quarterback Kalvin Johnson threw a touch pass about 30 yards. But Tenoroc senior safety Kenan Bell tipped the football and Williams caught it for an interception. Not yet done on the play, Bell ran it back 40-plus yards for a pick-six to make the score 12-0 over the Thunder in the first quarter.

"It felt good because that was a game that we were nervous about that we were going to win or lose because they're a decent school, so it felt good to make that play," Williams said. "It made everyone try harder because we knew we were in the game and possibly win the game, so I feel like that play made everyone do a lot better during the game."

Everyone on the team performed their best to the point that the Titans bombarded the Thunder by a score of 50-20 on Oct. 15, improving Tenoroc to 3-2 at the time. Tenoroc ended the season winning two of three to finish 5-3, securing a winning season for the first time in seven years. Tenoroc also advanced to the FHSAA Class 4A playoffs for the first time in the school's 14-year history. Williams had a huge role in that accomplishment on both sides of the ball.

Williams is The Ledger's 2021 Small School Defensive Player of the Year.

From an individual standpoint by the end of the year, Williams garnered 57 tackles, three interceptions and three pass deflections. In three years as a starter, Williams racked up 17 interceptions, which is a Tenoroc school record.

Setting him apart from others is his ability not only to cover, but he can play in the box and execute tackles at a high rate. An intangible that Williams possesses is the mental acuity to process the offense and notify the defense what will happen before a play begins, which he can do because he was also the Titans top offensive player as well.

"Although he was the main offensive cog for us, this kid, that's what he's played for us from Day 1, is the secondary since his sophomore year," Tenoroc head football coach Patrick Smith said. "He probably could have played for us his freshman year, but he stayed out on JV. But from Day 1, he's played either corner or safety for us. What he does is because he's back there, and he knows how to play the ball, and he knows how to patrol the middle of the field, and he can play one-on-one. He just makes the other kids around him better. No matter what we are talking about, defense, offense, he helps the other kids around him to be better. He just has a super-high-football IQ."

His high IQ allowed him to earn several recognitions, including first-team Florida Athletic Coach's Association small school defense.

His ability isn't the only reason Williams has earned numerous accolades. It's his leadership that has galvanized the play around him.

"I can influence people," he said. "I can teach people how to play their position, (and) I can help them out. And then whenever I'm on the field, the coaches can tell me what to tell people, and then I can go tell them. Really when I'm on the field, I can help everybody out. I can show them what to do while we're playing."

Williams uses training, coaching to get better

In order for Williams to have this stellar season, Williams needed to pump weights, watch countless hours of film, learn all his teammates tendencies and study more plays before the start of the 2021 season.

Along with his own motivation to improve as a football player, Williams said offensive coordinator Irving Strickland was another inducement for him to keep going. The reasoning: Strickland would always keep Williams' head held high no matter what the situation was. And this has been a coaching formula since Williams' sophomore year.

Smith, however, has coached Williams since he was in ninth grade, mentoring him in the offseason on how to play in the secondary.

Coaches are a huge part of how well a team plays. Williams, however, noted that along with the many players he has cultivated relationships with this year, teammates Bell, junior defensive tackle DJ Gillins and senior middle linebacker Jordan Ward were always players in his corner.

"I feel like it was through practice (that they helped me out) because all of them showed the leader position, and they were all encouraging people and showing them how to play and helping everybody out," Williams said.

Williams hasn't yet signed to his college of choice, although there are Division I and Division II schools that are highly interested in him.

"I am very grateful," Williams said. "I thank them (players and coaches) every time I see them. And I'm just very thankful that I get to keep on playing because I know most people stop after playing in high school, and I'm very thankful that I get to keep on going."

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Football, Tenoroc High School, Defensive Player of the Year, safety