Kragthorpe: Shaped by a tumultuous BYU experience, Jamaal Williams is an NFL success with the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay running back returned to the campus for Football Media Day.<br>
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Former BYU football player Jamaal Williams, now with the Green Bay Packers works the selfie camera during media day at the BYU-Broadcasting Building on Friday, June 22, 2018.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Former BYU football player Jamaal Williams, now with the Green Bay Packers works the selfie camera during media day at the BYU-Broadcasting Building on Friday, June 22, 2018.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Former BYU football player Jamaal Williams, now with the Green Bay Packers gets on the BYU Radio set with Spencer Linton, left, and Jarom Jordan, center, as BYU hosts their eighth-annual football media day at the BYU-Broadcasting Building on Friday, June 22, 2018.
Green Bay Packers' Jamaal Williams runs during the first half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings Saturday, Dec. 23, 2017, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)
Green Bay Packers running back Jamaal Williams (30) celebrates with quarterback Brett Hundley (7) after Williams scored a touchdown in the first half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Green Bay Packers running back Jamaal Williams (30) celebrates after scoring during the first half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune
Brigham Young Cougars running back Jamaal Williams (21) stands with offensive lineman, Tuni Kanuch (78), and Parker Dawe (54) after he was presented the trophy for offensive MVP, in the Poinsettia Bowl, at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, December 21, 2016.
Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune
Brigham Young Cougars running back Jamaal Williams (21) ran for 210 yards as BYU defeated the Wyoming Cowboys, 24-21, in the Poinsettia Bowl, at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, December 21, 2016.
Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune
Ted Tollner, Poinsettia Bowl President, presents Brigham Young Cougars running back Jamaal Williams (21) the trophy for offensive MVP, in the Poinsettia Bowl, at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, December 21, 2016.
Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune
Brigham Young cornerbacks coach, Jernaro Gilford walks off the field with Brigham Young Cougars running back Jamaal Williams (21), who rushed for 210 yards, and won the offensive MVP trophy, as BYU defeated Wyoming 24-21in the Poinsettia Bowl, at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, December 21, 2016.
Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune
Brigham Young Cougars running back Jamaal Williams (21) hugs
Brigham Young Cougars defensive back Hiva Lee (22) as BYU defeated Wyoming 24-21, in football action in thePoinsettia Bowl, at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, December 21, 2016.
Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune
Brigham Young running back Jamaal Williams (21) to run for a 36-yard touchdown for the Cougars, in the Poinsettia Bowl, at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, December 21, 2016.
Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune
Brigham Young offensive lineman Tuni Kanuch (78) and offensive lineman Tejan Koroma (56) open up a hole for running back Jamaal Williams (21) to run for a 36-yard touchdown for the Cougars, in the Poinsettia Bowl, at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, December 21, 2016.
BYU running back Jamaal Williams, left, scores a touchdown against Wyoming during the first half of the Poinsettia Bowl NCAA college football game Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2016, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Ryan Kang)
Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune
Brigham Young running back Jamaal Williams (21) runs the ball for the Cougars, in football action, BYU vs Utah State, at Lavell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Saturday, November 26, 2016.
Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune
Brigham Young running back Jamaal Williams (21) runs the ball for the Cougars, in football action, BYU vs Utah State, at Lavell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Saturday, November 26, 2016.
Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune
Brigham Young Cougars head coach Kalani Sitake hugs running back Jamaal Williams (21) as he is recognized with the seniors, before football action, BYU vs Utah State, at Lavell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Saturday, November 26, 2016.
Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune
Brigham Young Cougars running back Jamaal Williams (21) smiles as he is recognized with the seniors, before football action, BYU vs Utah State, at Lavell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Saturday, November 26, 2016.
BYU fans take selfies with running back Jamaal Williams (21) after their 28-21 in double overtime win against Mississippi State in an NCAA college football game in Provo, Utah, Friday, Oct. 14, 2016. (Chris Detrick/The Salt Lake Tribune via AP)
FILE - In this Sept. 30, 2016, file photo, BYU running back Jamaal Williams celebrates after scoring a touchdown against Toledo late in the first quarter of an NCAA college football game, in Provo, Utah. No. 14 Boise State hosts BYU on Thursday, Oct. 20, 2016. (Scott Sommerdorf/The Salt Lake Tribune via AP, File)
BYU's Jamaal Williams rushes against Michigan State during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016, in East Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)
Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune
BYU RB Jamaal Williams (21) scores his fifth TD on a 14 yard run to give BYU a 52-45 fourth quarter lead. BYU defeated Toledo 55-53, Friday, September 30, 2016.
Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune
BYU RB Jamaal Williams (21) celebrates with fans after BYU defeated Toledo 55-53, Friday, September 30, 2016.
This is a photo of Jamaal Williams of the Green Bay Packers for the 2017 NFLPA Rookie Premiere portraits taken on Saturday, May 20, 2017, in Los Angeles. (Dominic DiSaia/AP Images for NFLPA)
Green Bay Packers running back Jamaal Williams (30) is stopped by Washington Redskins inside linebacker Mason Foster (54) during the first half of an NFL preseason football game in Landover, Md., Saturday, Aug. 19, 2017. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Green Bay Packers' Jamaal Williams rides a bike to NFL football training camp Thursday, July 27, 2017, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Green Bay Packers running back Jamaal Williams (30) runs through the defense for a touchdown as he plays in an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Don Wright)
Green Bay Packers running back Jamaal Williams (30) rushes during the first half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
Green Bay Packers' Jamaal Williams runs for a first down during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)
Green Bay Packers running back Jamaal Williams (30) lines up against the Denver Broncos during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017, in Denver. (AP Photo/Joe Mahoney)
Green Bay Packers running back Jamaal Williams (30) runs through the defense for a touchdown as he plays in an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Don Wright)
Green Bay Packers running back Jamaal Williams (30) lines up against the Denver Broncos during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017, in Denver. (AP Photo/Joe Mahoney)
Green Bay Packers running back Jamaal Williams (30) celebrates with tight end Lance Kendricks (84) after Williams scored on a 30-yard touchdown pass in the first half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Green Bay Packers running back Jamaal Williams rushes in for a one-yard touchdown in the second half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Green Bay Packers running back Jamaal Williams (30) runs through the defense for a touchdown as he plays in an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Don Wright)
Green Bay Packers running back Jamaal Williams (30) out runs Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt (90) and Mike Hilton (31) to the end zone for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017. (AP Photo/Don Wright)
Green Bay Packers running back Jamaal Williams scores on a 30-yard touchdown pass in the first half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Green Bay Packers running back Jamaal Williams (30) plays in an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Provo
When his Green Bay Packers teammates ask Jamaal Williams about his college years, he starts by saying, “Yeah, there’s an honor code ...”
That’s how Williams addressed his BYU experience Friday, appearing as part of a BYUtv show about ex-Cougars in pro football. The unspoken element of the discussion about how the school is perceived in the NFL was Williams’ having deferred his senior season for a year, withdrawing from BYU — he would later say he was “kicked out” for having sex — before returning and becoming the Cougars’ all-time rushing leader.
In some ways, Williams’ career path made him an unlikely figure to be showcased during the school’s annual Football Media Day. Maybe that’s the point, though. Williams just keeps coming back to BYU, whenever he’s needed.
“Loyalty’s a big thing,” he told The Salt Lake Tribune.
That’s why he rejoined the program in 2016, rather than transfer for his senior season. If his Packers teammates wonder about that choice, “The only answer I give ‘em is ‘football,’ ” he said during the TV show. “I just sacrificed for football.”
Williams thrived in his return, rushing for 1,375 yards and establishing himself as “one of the most-loved players that’s ever been through here,” said BYU’s Kalani Sitake, who coached him during that 9-4 season.
BYU lacks volume in developing NFL talent lately, compared with Utah and Utah State, but the Cougars are producing some good stories. Kyle Van Noy has started for New England in the last two Super Bowls. Taysom Hill debuted on special teams as a New Orleans rookie and is showing signs of becoming a genuine NFL quarterback. Ziggy Ansah will earn $17.1 million this season as a Detroit defensive end, after having become a BYU starter only in October of his senior year.
Entering his second year in Green Bay, Williams is in the mix to start at running back. He replaced an injured Ty Montgomery in the second half of last season and rushed for 556 yards. Because of Williams’ well-rounded game, some observers are giving him the edge in this summer’s competition with Montgomery, Aaron Jones and Utah State alum Devante Mays.
Whether the school gets credit for molding Williams or merely providing obstacles he had to overcome, BYU got him to Green Bay. Williams’ example shows that someone “can be himself at BYU,” Sitake said, “and have success.”
Well, that’s true within some boundaries that are not in place on other campuses. Having recovered from a knee injury in November of his junior season of 2014, Williams was eager to play the next year, expressing excitement during his Media Day appearance that summer. By August, he was gone from Provo, accepting former coach Bronco Mendenhall’s suggestion that he withdraw from school with the public explanation of “personal reasons.”
In an extensive Bleacher Report profile in advance of the 2017 NFL draft, Williams said having sex was the reason he was forced to leave.
It all worked out well, though. “I’m happy for myself; I’m proud of myself for just staying with it … finishing what I started,” Williams said Friday.
“He had some difficulty along the way,” Sitake said, “but we demand guys do things a bit differently here and I think he’s been a huge [beneficiary] of that.”
Williams departed as BYU’s career rushing leader with 3,901 yards after a senior season highlighted by his 286-yard effort against Toledo, another school record.
That’s all part of why Williams is remembered well in Provo and why he can look back with satisfaction and appreciation of BYU. “You can’t be mad at the school,” he said, “for the consequences that come from your actions.”
The school’s standards once drove him away, but he came back. And now, he’s an honor code advocate — to this extent, anyway. Without it, he acknowledged with a wry grin during the TV show, “I’d probably be a wild man.”
JAMAAL WILLIAMS BY THE NUMBERS<br>At BYU<br>2012 • 13 games, 166 carries, 775 yards (4.7), 12 touchdowns.<br>2013 • 12 games, 217 carries, 1,233 yards (5.7), seven touchdowns.<br>2014 • 8 games, 109 carries, 518 yards (4.8), four touchdowns.<br>2016 • 10 games, 234 carries, 1,375 yards (5.9), 12 touchdowns.<br>At Green Bay<br>2017 • 16 games, 153 carries, 556 yards (3.6), four touchdowns.