Ole Miss Transfer Safety Wydett Williams Jr. Emerging as Key Piece in Golding’s Defense
OXFORD, Miss. — Transfer safety Wydett Williams Jr. has impressed since his arrival on the Ole Miss campus. He made some big plays in the Rebels’ first three games, but none bigger than against Arkansas when he scooped up the ball after TJ Dottery forced a fumble in the closing minutes of the game, a 41-35 win for Ole Miss. The Hogs were driving and a touchdown and PAT would have given them the lead with little time left on the clock.
Williams’ recovery sealed the win and moved the Rebels to 3-0. He was asked after the game what adjustments the defense made at halftime to bounce back and hold the Hogs to just seven points in the second half.
“We weren’t playing our style of ball at first, but the second half, we had to change our mindset. We had to change everything that we were doing just from a focus and key point of view. As long as we do our job, then the rest will handle itself.”
Wydett Williams Jr. on defensive adjustments
Wydett did his job against Arkansas last Saturday, snagging the all-important recovery. He talked about what was going through his mind when he saw the ball on the ground.
“It just bounced up to me. My first thing, they always make us go, if the ball is on the ground, we’ve always got to scoop it. No matter if it’s a pass deflection or a strip, we’ve always got to do it. So we work it every day in practice. So if you’re working in practice, it’ll happen in the game.“
Wydett Williams Jr.
The 6-foot-2, 210-pound Williams Jr. transferred in from a Group of 5 team, UL Monroe, ready to take the next step in his college career. It’s been a long journey, starting in Mississippi with Division II Delta State. After two seasons with the Statesmen, he spent one season with the Warharks.
He is now a Rebel, and Ole Miss fans are surely glad he is.
But despite being happy with how his season has started, Williams Jr. knows there is much more he can — and will — do in the Pete Golding defense.
“I feel I’ve played okay to this point. I still have to put a full game together, but I just continue to work and get better. Get better every day, and the days will stack.“
Wydett Williams Jr.
Playing for Golding was a huge draw for Williams Jr. when he made his decision to transfer to Ole Miss. He was asked why he picked the Rebels.
“Really just the defense, looking at what they put out. Being that I’m a senior, my goal, my ultimate goal, is to go to the NFL, and I feel like I can grow here. There’s a really smart, really smart coaching group here. They treat you like family and in order to go to the next level, you have to grow every day. You have to be willing to learn each and every day and you have to put in in order to get out.”
Wydett Williams Jr.
Same Mentality for Tulane Game
When asked about the game plan for the game against Tulane, Williams Jr. sees it as no differently from the previous one against Arkansas—focusing on the keys to the game and having each other’s back when the Green Wave offense is on the field.
“It’s the same thing I said about Arkansas. Focusing on our keys, making sure we are doing our part right, and executing what was called. At the end of the day, we’re playing for each other, and when you’ve got your brothers beside you, then everything will fall into place.“
Wydett Williams Jr.
Another turnover in the game for Williams Jr. Saturday would get the Vaught-Hemingway Stadium crowd bouncing. Another win would also put the Rebels in a great spot before the visit of the top-ranked LSU Tigers the next weekend.
Kickoff for Ole Miss vs. Tulane is set for 2:30 p.m. CT, and the game will be broadcast on ESPN.
Jordan Merritt
Jordan is a freelance writer who covers sports, games, and more. A United Kingdom native, he covers everything Ole Miss for The Rebel Walk. He has written for several publications, including Athlon Sports, On SI, Fansided, and others. Away from writing, he loves spending time with his family and watching films and TV series.
