Williams rushes into starting role at Toledo
Already a 1,000-yard tailback in college, former McKinley star ready to flourish
By Jim Isabella
Special to the Beacon Journal
Published on Tuesday, Jul 20, 2010
Tom Stacy watched plenty of tape and DVDs on Morgan Williams while he was coaching at Massillon. Stacy knew Williams, then Canton McKinley's tailback, was one of those rare and special game-breakers his Tigers had to watch every second he was on the field.
''He was strong, had great vision, made some great cuts and was very durable,'' said Stacy, now the coach at Green. ''He is one of the best I've ever been around.''
Stacy's words reflect the very reasons the University of Toledo was thrilled that Williams came to the football program in 2007.
As the 2010 season approaches, the 5-foot-11, 195-pound Williams is projected as the starting running back for the Rockets.
''He had a decent year [last year] behind our starter DeJuane Collins. He is a very, very smart kid,'' said Toledo coach and former Ohio State assistant Tim Beckman, who grew up in Berea. His father, Dave Beckman, was an assistant for the Browns under Sam Rutigliano and Marty Schottenheimer.
Williams ''is a very disciplined player who is learning all facets of the game,'' Beckman said. ''It has taken him time to learn and adapt to our system. Morgan had a great spring and earned the right to be
our No. 1 back. It is a position we are four-deep at, but he has been outstanding.''
