Williams Doesn?t Disappoint as a Leader

By John Rohde // SoonerSports.com

When Bill Bedenbaugh arrived as Oklahoma's new offensive line coach shortly before spring practice in 2013, he quickly let it be known that every practice essentially would be an audition. “Every spring, every job's open,” Bedenbaugh said. “During the week, every job's open. If you don't perform the way you're supposed to in a game, you're not gonna keep your job. That's reality.”

OU's O-line wasn't exactly set at the time. Seemingly every player at every position had been sidelined with an injury at one time or another. As a result, a game of musical chairs ensued with linemen constantly being relocated. This diversification would eventually prove beneficial as we saw in the Sugar Bowl when OU shuffled new players into new positions, but when you're in the moment, learning on the fly can be overwhelming.

None of these demands overwhelmed offensive right tackle Daryl Williams, who battled every day to become better, particularly at the little things most people would never notice.

But Bedenbaugh isn't most people. He constantly harps on technique, footwork, hands, alignment, even where a player's eyes should be looking. He teaches his linemen how to recognize defenses and blitz packages. He also wanted his first group of linemen to beef up during the offseason, yet maintain their mobility as much as possible.

None of these demands overwhelmed offensive right tackle Daryl Williams, who battled every day to become better, particularly at the little things most people would never notice.

Williams again took every step in stride, but his biggest adjustment would come after the 2013 season.

Senior center and team captain Gabe Ikard was leaving, off to the NFL and the Tennessee Titans. Ikard was a three-time, first-team All-Big 12 lineman and a four-time All-Academic selection. He was the Sooners' heartbeat, someone who will long be remembered as one of the smartest and classiest players in OU history.

Ikard also served as team spokesman, both inside and outside the locker room. Someone had to take his place, or at least try.

Deep down, every returning offensive player knew Williams would replace Ikard.

Starting left offensive tackle Tyrus Thompson knows Williams better than anyone on the team. He and Williams, both redshirt seniors, arrived as members of a heralded 2010 recruiting class and were roommates until Thompson got married after the 2012 season.

“I was calling him 'Captain' long before he was officially named captain because it was obvious,” said a smiling Thompson. “I call him 'Cap'n Crunch.' ”

Informed of Thompson's playful moniker, Williams raised both eyebrows and clearly was not impressed. “ 'Cap'n Crunch'? Really?” Williams said, smiling and shaking his head.

Williams' captaincy became official in late August. Also selected as team captains were quarterback Trevor Knight, defensive end Chuka Ndulue, linebacker Eric Striker, cornerback Julian Wilson and kicker Michael Hunnicutt.

Daryl Williams

Let's be perfectly clear. Williams is not Ikard, nor does he pretend to be.

“He's not going to try to be Ikard,” Thompson said. “Daryl is Daryl, man. He's his own guy. He's not into all that 'hoo-rah' stuff. Everyone just sees him do the right thing and hopefully they'll follow suit.”

As this year's spring practice approached, Williams said he knew what he had to do.

“Guys were hurt. Gabe was gone. (Offensive lineman) Bronson Irwin was gone. I knew I had to step my game up, not just for my team by also for myself,” Williams explained.

Williams has no intention of giving rah-rah speeches in the locker room or the huddle. “I think after Gabe left, it (a verbal presence) was gone, but that's why I had to pick my game up,” Williams said. “I don't really talk that much, unless it's with my boys (close friends).”

Williams' leadership is far more fundamental. Actually, his leadership stems from fundamentals. Williams wants to lead by being technically perfect as a lineman. He wants to lead by being the ultimate example, by his body of work rather than by word of mouth, and all this suits Bedenbaugh just fine.

Daryl is Daryl, man. He's his own guy. He's not into all that 'hoo-rah' stuff. Everyone just sees him do the right thing and hopefully they'll follow suit.
Tyrus Thompson

“That's the great thing about Daryl,” Bedenbaugh said. “He isn't an overly talkative kid, not that he's totally quiet. He's somewhere in between. When he says something, it matters. I think those are the best leaders, guys who lead by example in how they play and how they help other guys. Whether it's fundamentals, his technique. Whether it's his steps here, his hands here. Whatever it might be, he's coming to work every day and approaching the game the right way. Other guys see what it takes to become a great player.”

Thompson agreed and said of Williams, “He's always been a lead-by-example kind of guy. Ever since we were young and first got here, he never really talked much. He just did things right all the time. He's so technically sound. He takes to coaching the best of anyone I've ever met. He's got a really great work ethic. He's always looking to be great. He's not going to settle for just being a good player. He's that good of a player now that everyone notices.”

Bedenbaugh certainly noticed Williams last spring, calling it “the best spring I've ever seen from an offensive lineman.”

“He didn't make mistakes,” Bedenbaugh said. “He came ready to play every day. A lot of guys don't do that. They make mistakes. They're not always focused. They may have a bad day. I don't recall him having a bad day ever during the spring. That's really what made it impressive, just how consistently good he was throughout the spring.”

Williams seemed shocked when informed of Bedenbaugh's praise. “That's a huge honor coming from Coach B, but I guarantee you he wouldn't have said it to my face,” Williams said with a smile.

Daryl Williams

None of this came by accident for Williams. “Spring is a great time to improve, going against the ones (OU defensive starters) every other day,” Williams said. “I also had a lot of time to watch film. It was just the perfect opportunity to get better.”

Williams studied video of NFL lineman and elite college players. “If guys want to be good players, they watch NFL tapes to see how the best do things,” Bedenbaugh said. “That's what I try to get these guys to do, just study good players and their fundamentals, technique, how hard they play.”

Bedenbaugh also stresses that his linemen have a physical presence. “He made us understand what a good O-line should be,” Williams said of Bedenbaugh. “He wanted us to be tough, nasty, physical dudes, and that's what a great O-Line is.”

The 6-foot-6, 329-pound Williams already had the physical aspect down cold. “This is not a man you want to make angry,” said Thompson, who goes 6-foot-5 and 336 pounds himself.

“I'm quiet,” Williams said, “but if you get on my nerves ….”

Evidently, Thompson is the only player allowed to give Williams any type of grief. “That's my boy,” Thompson explained. “It's like when you're brothers, you know. You are what your brother is. You fight and you play around a lot.”

He doesn't have to say anything for you to respect him. His body language demands respect.
Chuka Ndulue

The Sooners' offensive and defensive lines, which both rate among the nation's elite this season, square off every week.

“We don't take crap from anyone, not even Striker or (defensive end Charles) Tapper,” Thompson said. “And if they beat you, you had better get them the next play.”

Suffice to day, Williams is respected on both sides of the ball. “Just look at him. He's a specimen,” said Ndulue, also a member of the 2010 recruiting class. “He doesn't have to say anything for you to respect him. His body language demands respect.”

Williams' desire, commitment, competitiveness and respect help explain why he was on the Outland Trophy preseason watch list, an award that represents the nation's best interior lineman.

This also explains why Williams has an opportunity to become the sixth OU player to win the prestigious award, joining Jim Weatherall (1951), J.D. Roberts (1953), Lee Roy Selmon (1975), Greg Roberts (1978) and Jammal Brown (2004).

No doubt, Daryl Williams epitomizes what it means to be a leader and he's gained the respect of his teammates and coaches the old-fashioned way, he's earned it!

About John Rohde

John Rohde is a respected name on the Oklahoma sports scene and will provide regular features for SoonerSports.com. Voted Oklahoma Sportswriter of the Year five times, Rohde has covered OU football and basketball, the Oklahoma City Thunder, OKC/New Orleans Hornets, Dallas Cowboys, Texas Rangers, the Final Four, Masters and PGA Tour. He spent over 26 years for The Oklahoman, serving as a columnist and beat writer. He can be heard on 107.7 The Franchise, the flagship station for OU Athletics weekdays from 5:30-9 a.m.