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“The rock” of Klein Oak’s defense
By Michael Sudhalter
Off the field, Klein Oak senior linebacker Kevin Williams is just a quiet, soft-spoken 18-year-old who’d rather credit his teammates than accept accolades for being a leader in the Panthers’ defense.
“I try to take coaching well, and I just try to go out there and have fun,” Williams said.
In the spotlight is where Williams, a converted safety who leads Klein Oak (12-1) in tackles, makes his presence known.
“He’s the best tackler we’ve ever had, he’s a super player - smart and tough,” Panthers football coach David Smith said. “He makes tackles the way you draw it up on a book. He’ll take on a 300-pound guard and make him stand straight up.”
The 6-foot-1, 195-pound Williams is excited about the opportunity that awaits his team. They’ll face Copperas Cove (12-1) at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the Class 5A Division II Regional Quarterfinals at Tiger Stadium in Corsicana.
“It’s pretty awesome,” Williams said. “I think we’re going to do well. We’ve got a good defensive line that does their job. It makes it a lot easier for me to do my job and clean up all the tackles.”
Williams isn’t a stranger to the state quarterfinals. He was called up to the varsity as a sophomore safety during the Panthers’ first-ever trip to that round; they ended up losing to Garland.
“They brought me up and I got to play some special teams and kickoffs,” Williams said.
“It was really intense and the sidelines were fun, everyone was excited, then it was great all the way until we lost, then I could remember seeing a lot of people crying. I don’t want to do that this year, I want to win the whole thing.”
If that happens, Williams and his teammates will get the opportunity to play in not one, but two National Football League stadiums – Texas Stadium in Irving at 4 p.m. next Saturday in the state semifinals against Cedar Hill or Wylie, and Reliant Stadium in Houston on Dec. 20 in the state championship game.
Williams said it’ll be exciting to play on the home fields of both the Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans. Klein Oak was scheduled to play at Texas Stadium on Sept. 1, but it was cancelled because their opponent – Mandeville (La.) – couldn’t make it to Dallas due to Hurricane Gustav.
“I watch the (Cowboys) a little bit, but I’m a Texans fan right now,” Williams said.
“You’ve got to root for the home team. I’ll watch the Cowboys every now and then.”
Williams also competes in wrestling for the Panthers, saying that it “helps my tackling and keeps me in shape.”
Williams has been focusing primarily on academics and football, but he hasn’t received much attention from colleges yet.
Smith expects that to change shortly.
“He has been a rock every game,” Smith said. “He makes all of the calls up front, he’s a great leader. When the season gets over, he’ll get more attention because of what he’s done.”
“I try to take coaching well, and I just try to go out there and have fun,” Williams said.
In the spotlight is where Williams, a converted safety who leads Klein Oak (12-1) in tackles, makes his presence known.
“He’s the best tackler we’ve ever had, he’s a super player - smart and tough,” Panthers football coach David Smith said. “He makes tackles the way you draw it up on a book. He’ll take on a 300-pound guard and make him stand straight up.”
The 6-foot-1, 195-pound Williams is excited about the opportunity that awaits his team. They’ll face Copperas Cove (12-1) at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the Class 5A Division II Regional Quarterfinals at Tiger Stadium in Corsicana.
“It’s pretty awesome,” Williams said. “I think we’re going to do well. We’ve got a good defensive line that does their job. It makes it a lot easier for me to do my job and clean up all the tackles.”
Williams isn’t a stranger to the state quarterfinals. He was called up to the varsity as a sophomore safety during the Panthers’ first-ever trip to that round; they ended up losing to Garland.
“They brought me up and I got to play some special teams and kickoffs,” Williams said.
“It was really intense and the sidelines were fun, everyone was excited, then it was great all the way until we lost, then I could remember seeing a lot of people crying. I don’t want to do that this year, I want to win the whole thing.”
If that happens, Williams and his teammates will get the opportunity to play in not one, but two National Football League stadiums – Texas Stadium in Irving at 4 p.m. next Saturday in the state semifinals against Cedar Hill or Wylie, and Reliant Stadium in Houston on Dec. 20 in the state championship game.
Williams said it’ll be exciting to play on the home fields of both the Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans. Klein Oak was scheduled to play at Texas Stadium on Sept. 1, but it was cancelled because their opponent – Mandeville (La.) – couldn’t make it to Dallas due to Hurricane Gustav.
“I watch the (Cowboys) a little bit, but I’m a Texans fan right now,” Williams said.
“You’ve got to root for the home team. I’ll watch the Cowboys every now and then.”
Williams also competes in wrestling for the Panthers, saying that it “helps my tackling and keeps me in shape.”
Williams has been focusing primarily on academics and football, but he hasn’t received much attention from colleges yet.
Smith expects that to change shortly.
“He has been a rock every game,” Smith said. “He makes all of the calls up front, he’s a great leader. When the season gets over, he’ll get more attention because of what he’s done.”
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