Chiefs rookie CB Joshua Williams went from delivering pizza to playing with Mahomes

The Kansas City Chiefs’ rookie cornerback Joshua Williams — the team’s fourth-round selection from Division II school Fayetteville State within the 2022 NFL Draft — was among the many gamers chatting with the reporters from coaching camp in St. Joseph, Missouri on Sunday.

Williams has an enhanced appreciation for the chance earlier than him. Whereas small-school gamers have at all times confronted an uphill climb to the NFL, Division II schools didn’t actually have a 2020 season because of the coronavirus pandemic. Williams discovered himself, not less than briefly, having to construct a life outdoors of soccer.

“We had my sophomore season — it was fairly good,” he recalled. “Then, sadly, COVID struck. Principally, that entire yr was sort of up within the air if we have been going to have a season or a spring season. After all, I used to be making ready as if we have been going to have a season. I used to be hopeful — simply figuring out. I did have a part-time job, however that was about it. Understanding, doing my schoolwork, going to work — and sadly, we didn’t find yourself having a season.”

Photograph by Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Pictures

Williams later revealed that his part-time work included delivering pizza for Domino’s and dealing as a safety guard at Walmart.

He spoke about managing his personal coaching between the tip of June’s necessary minicamp and reporting for coaching camp at Missouri Western State College on Friday.

“The primary factor was most likely simply entering into my playbook, after all,” Williams defined, “as a result of going from faculty to an NFL playbook could be very totally different. So ensuring I perceive my assignments, alignments, strategies, all of that. After all, getting in form to come back out right here and get all of those reps. So a whole lot of it was fairly lower and dried — not an excessive amount of to consider.”

Williams acknowledges the heavy adjustment he faces leaping from Fayetteville State to the NFL. He credited assist he has acquired from coaches — and from a really well-known new teammate.

“It’s been nice,” he confirmed. “The coaches we have now, they at all times push you alongside. They’re at all times telling you regulate faster. So it’s probably not getting thrown in a hearth. They’re telling you what they count on, do sure issues, put together. So it’s undoubtedly not super-smooth, but it surely’s one thing that’s doable when you put together your self.

“It’s a really totally different factor coming from a small college and assembly Patrick Mahomes — anyone who has reached the heights of this league. And for him to be as humble as he’s? There [are] a whole lot of guys [who are] at all times serving to you, pushing you alongside, preserving you motivated. He’s a type of dudes. Nice particular person — and he’s what he’s: a fantastic participant.”

In Sunday’s follow, Williams was famous for aggressive red-zone reps in opposition to tight finish Jody Fortson — one other former Division II participant who’s in camp early as he recovers from an Achilles tear last season. Williams appeared to verify Fortson’s restoration is on monitor — and that the tight finish obtained the higher of Sunday’s matchup.

“Man, that’s a protracted dude,” Williams mentioned of his new teammate. “He’s good. He’s a fantastic participant. Hopefully, we will maintain getting some reps — and subsequent time, I’m going to get him on that.”