The University of Akron Athletics
Who Says You Can't Come Home Again?
October 17 | Football
By Vincent Dorsey
Akron's junior running back Bryan
Williams is the only Zip player to hail from the city of Akron.
Williams, a standout running back and cornerback at Buchtel High
School, took a winding path to return home and play for the
hometown Zips.
Coming out of high school, the prep star signed a National Letter
of Intent to play football for the University of Pittsburgh, but
instead, wound up continuing his education and football career at
Valley Forge Military College (VFMC).
VFMC is a private, co-educational two-year college that enrolls
approximately 220 cadets in its first and second-year programs.
Williams credits his experience at VFMC with teaching him to be
more responsible and disciplined.
"Being at that military college, it was just a rude awakening," the
6-foot, 195-pound running back said. "The atmosphere was totally
different – a.m. to the p.m. we had something to do. There
wasn't any break until the nighttime when it was time for taps,
time to get into bed. Ten o'clock was lights out."
Akron head coach J.D. Brookhart agreed with Williams in that his
time at Valley Forge had a profound impact on his life.
"He really matured as a young man, having to go through that," the
Zips' fourth-year head coach said. "I'm sure it was very humbling,
but it was a sacrifice to do what he wanted to do. He made great
improvements in his life in making that two-year commitment."
While nearing the completion of his associate's degree at Valley
Forge, Williams said that many of the same coaches that recruited
him while in high school resurfaced.
Williams said that even though he has had interest in UA since his
freshman year at Buchtel, he told the Zips' coaching staff when
they recruited him in high school that he would not be committing
to them. The fact that the Zips' coaching staff showed interest in
him after his time at Valley Forge, even after be shunned two years
prior, weighed heavily on Williams' decision to commit to the
Zips.
"They still came back and that meant a lot to me," Williams said.
"I'm like, ‘man, this staff is real. They really want me to
play for their team.' I respected that."
Once Williams decided that he wanted to return home and attend UA,
he had to convince his mother that it was an appropriate fit.
He admitted that she was leery at first, but became more
comfortable with his decision after learning more about the
University and its new facilities.
"She was really iffy at first," Williams said, "but once she came
down here, viewed the new campus, looked at everything and talked
to the coaches, she started to understand more why I wanted to come
home."
Williams has made the most of his homecoming. In his first game as
a Zip, in the First Merit Patriot Bowl against Army, Williams
returned the opening kickoff 70 yards. He has continued to achieve
success, both as a kick returner and running back. Williams leads
the Mid-American Conference and ranks scond in the NCAA in kick
returns, averaging 33.3 yards per attempt.
Williams has been the team's starting running back for the past
five weeks. In Akron's thrilling 39-38 win at Western Michigan,
Williams ran for 72 yards and was on the receiving end of a 60-yard
touchdown pass, his first TD in an Akron uniform, from Zips'
sophomore quarterback Chris Jacquemain.
A week later against Temple, Williams tallied another first,
breaking the 100-yard barrier as he rushed for 114 yards and
averaged 5.2 yards per carry. He leads the team and ranks 10th in
the MAC in rushing with 352 yards and is the team's third-leader
receiver with 11 catches.
Williams points to the help of running backs Dennis
Kennedy and Alex Allen this past spring and summer as reasons
for his early season success.
"These guys really didn't have to accept me," Williams said. "They
could have just put me to the side and said ‘man, you learn it
or (if) you don't, well, you're just going to sit back and watch
us.' These guys helped me a lot.
"The team chemistry is just coming together, and that's what I like
about the whole program."
Brookhart said that Williams quickly became accepted as a member of
the team, and that the team respects him not only for his on-field
abilities, but also his personality and demeanor.
"He's a quiet kid who's very unassuming," Brookhart said. "He just
went out and let his play speak for itself. The guys have enjoyed
him. He's not a talker. He's just an engaging, fine young man."
Although Williams has aspirations of playing professional football
once his collegiate career is over, the mass communication major
said that he is at UA to fulfill a promise to his mother.
"I want to get out of here with a degree, Williams said. "I've got
my associate's, but I promised my mom I would get my
bachelor's.
The road to UA may have been long, and at times rocky, for the
local prep star, but Williams is grateful for the opportunity he
has been given to return home.
"It's a great honor to be from Akron and to play for my hometown
team," he said. "I have been through a lot through the two years
– going to a JC (junior college), going through the whole
recruiting process and then chalking it up and saying I'm going
back home to play. It just feels wonderful to be at home."
