Interview: 2022 Memphis OG/OC Taylor Williams Ready to Showcase the Skills at College Camps
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
After Whitehaven High School had their 2020 season cancelled, college coaches best brace for shock and awe this summer when Taylor Williams comes to town. The 6-2, 290-pound, offensive lineman is that versatile player able to line up anywhere in the interior including at center and he is ready to get after some dudes. Starting at left guard during the 2019 season for the Tigers, Taylor was that stonewall knocking defenders around while keeping them out of the pocket. The extended offseason has been nothing but drills, workouts, and athletic training. All will be on display with a healthy college camp circuit planned.
In an RNG stylized Q&A interview, Williams stopped by the Lab to talk some football.
Interview
Taylor, going back watching film from your sophomore season, it looks like you enjoy mixing it up in the trenches on a Friday night.
Yes, sir. I use a lot of different techniques. I am a technical person, that is my thing. I am not the biggest guy so I have to perfect my technique. Every day I work on my technique.
What is the offensive philosophy of the Tigers’ attack?
We are a run team. We are run first team playing smash mouth football, then we go play action.
Playing left guard, you were doing a great job of keeping your pad level low and getting your hands out locking onto defenders. What do you feel are some of the other strengths to your game?
My pass-pro. I feel like I am one of the best pass-protecting guards in the country. I am versatile able to play anywhere from left tackle to center because I am an athlete.
Throughout the offseason, what have you been working on with your game?
I have been working on my lateral movement. In the highlights you saw, I had torn my meniscus. I missed time during the 2019 season. When I came back, I was still hurting. I only played five or six games. During the 2019 season I could barely kick slide but I was still dominating. It was hard to push on the defensive linemen working off one knee. Your knees are the most important thing for an offensive lineman. Everything goes through your knees.
Let’s go into the weight room. What have you been doing to increase your strength?
Right now, we are not in the weight room because of COVID. It has been over a year since we’ve been in our weight room. It has been since my 10th grade year and I am about to be a senior. I go to Planet Fitness and other gyms in the area to workout. I am doing squats, pushups, and bench presses. Also, I have a personal trainer that I work with. I am throwing the discus and shot; my trainer helps me get all the little muscles.
What are your maxes?
My squat is 570 and my bench is 325.
You touched on this a minute go, going deeper. What have you been doing to increase your agility and footwork?
Every day I get on the ladder doing agility drills. I have cones, I do cone drills every single day. Slow feet don’t eat.
When the 2021 season gets going, will we see you doing anything differently on the field?
This year, we are keeping it open. I might play some nose guard or defensive tackle. During the 2021 season I will see the defensive side of the ball this year. At Whitehaven, we have about 30 offensive linemen and about 25 of them are starters. We have a lot of D-I football guys on our team. Our roster is loaded. I will play center this year. I feel I will go Power Five at center. Where I play this season, it is up to my coaches. They are looking at me at center and guard.
Camp season is going strong, have you been to any camps yet and/or do you have any camps you may attend coming up?
I haven’t been to any yet, but I am going to the Rivals camp in Atlanta in two weeks. I was supposed go to the one in Dallas but my head coach is now taking me. They switched the invitation to Atlanta.
Are you going to any college camps this summer?
Yes, I am going to Notre Dame for sure, Arizona State, Colorado, Memphis, Tennessee, and I will try to go to a Florida State camp. I also want to go to camps at Florida and USC.
Which schools are showing interest?
Notre Dame, I get mail from them every day. That is the biggest school right now. Arizona State, Arkansas State, Mississippi State, Liberty, Tennessee, Penn State, all the Ivy League schools like Harvard, Dartmouth, Columbia, Pennsylvania, and Cornell. Duke, California, USC, and Florida State are showing interest. There are a lot of schools showing interest.
Sounds like it. The camps may allow for you to take some visits, are there any schools you’d like to visit if the camps do not work out as planned?
Yes, I’d like to visit USC, Notre Dame, Arizona State, and Penn State. I am going to Wake Forest in June.
Taylor, I enjoyed our time talking today. Wishing you the best of luck at all the upcoming camps.
Thank you, sir.
Photo credit: Williams family; Taylor Williams