2015 Spartan Nation Football Profile: RB Delton Williams

Expectation: Compete for Starting RB Position

Height: 6â€™1â€

Weight: 230#

2015 Eligibility: Junior

EXP: 2 Letters

Status: Competing for Starting RB Position

Strengths: Williams is a tough runner. He can punish defenders who try to take him on at the point of attack and he has deceptive speed to create separation. In the 2nd quarter of the OSU game, MSU had a 1st and 10 at the Buckeye 44 with 9:05 on the clock with the game tied at 14. The Buckeyes had eight men in the box and despite being touched by defenders BEHIND THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE coming out of the I formation Williams still broke loose for six yards.

Williams has great athleticism and balance and was underused terribly last season. More on that tidbit later.

Weakness: Letâ€™s go right back to the OSU game. Still in the 2nd quarter and still tied at 14. There was 7:11 on the clock and the Spartans had a 2nd and three at the Buckeye 24. The Spartans were in the offset I with the FB lined up to Williams right side. The Buckeyes had early penetration and when Williams recognized it he hesitated and when he did, he moved his body upward and had no power to drive away and was stopped. His weakness is simple. He is such an athletic specimen that at times he lets his technique go because in high school and sometimes even now his athleticism overpowers people. He has to understand that at this level everyone is good and you always have to stay within your technique no matter how talented you are.

Final Analysis: Mark Dantonio IS NOT one to call out his assistants but TWICE last year he voiced frustration that Delton Williams did not even get a carry. Against both Oregon and Nebraska zero! He also got no carries against Baylor. When we asked Dave Warner, the OC/RB Coach, about it he said that Williams not getting the ball was â€œNot intentional.â€ I can understand that, but when you are the OC calling plays and the RB coach you canâ€™t let that happen. Especially TWICE after your head coach voiced concern.

I can tell you this. Nebraska and Baylor both expected Williams to get carries and both were surprised that OC/RB Coach Dave Warner didnâ€™t use him. That is NOT a slam on Nick Hill who is a good back, but was used in some situations last year that clearly called for Williams.

MSU is hurt this year because Williams got little experience last season preparing for a bigger role and missed the spring due to off field legal issues. I plan to find out if there is a plan in place to fix the RB rotation issues in 2015 so there are no unintentional mistakes with the rotation and with Williams back, I hope he gets a fair shot.

I will have much more on the Williams off field issues and how it relates to this season later this week, but for now I add this. I love Williams as a person and a kid. His life has been a tragic heart breaking story, but he is a wonderful young man. Williams is warm, kind, and a true gentleman. You bet he had issues that got him in trouble. It was a dumb mistake, but I refuse to let any young person be defined by one mistake, and unless you were perfect between the ages 18-23 you shouldnâ€™t either.

The young man could have left MSU and transferred. Instead he manned up, went off scholarship, AND IS PAYING HIS OWN WAY TO BE HERE. Essentially, he is paying a $40,000 fine and missed the spring. Enough is enough. No more suspensions or missing games. I hope to see him in shape and starting for the Spartans in Kalamazoo.

I will tell you this. He is not LIKED by his teammates, he is LOVED, and talking with MANY of them they want to see him lined up as the starter as well. If you looked at Williamsâ€™s life, there would be many reasons at many times you could bet against him. Donâ€™t be foolish. In todayâ€™s modern throw things away when they get tough mentality, Williams isnâ€™t a young person you throw away. Not as a football player, but more importantly not as a young man. He made a big mistake, but he ISNâ€™T a mistake.

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