4/30/2013
Williams signs with Vikings
CHRIS HOPPES
Sports Editor
Miami Trace graduate and Ohio State standout defensive end Nathan Williams has signed a free agent contract to play in the National Football League for the Minnesota Vikings.
Williams was not selected in the draft, which was held Thursday through Saturday, but signed with the Vikings as a free agent Saturday after the draft concluded.
"Nathan will be going to the Vikings' mini-camp, this weekend," Williams' agent, David Lockett said. "We feel this is a great opportunity for him in Minnesota. I think they really got a good player. I think they'll find they'll be pretty happy about it.
"I expect they'll use him as a linebacker," Lockett said. "It's tough to say what the coaches are thinking. Once they see him, we'll see how things go, but I imagine they'll use him as an outside linebacker."
Williams spent the first part of the NFL draft with his family and his dogs, trying not to dwell on whether or not his life-long dream would be released.
"I watched a little bit of the draft the first day," Williams said. "After that, I kept my mind on other things; I worked out, I went shopping for food.
"My mind has been on this for so long," Williams said. "I've been waiting on this moment for, oh, gosh, 20 years now. There were so many built-up emotions."
During the process of the draft, Williams was receiving calls from several NFL teams, expressing interest in him.
"Their linebackers' coaches were talking to me, just displaying their interest in me," Williams said. "They were telling me what I could expect, stuff like that, just scenarios on what it would be like if I went to that team.
"I was taking a lot of phone calls, but my agent (David Lockett) was very busy working for me," Williams said. "I was really wanting to listen to more of his advice on everything, because, that's his job."
Williams spoke with the Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Jets and Miami Dolphins, in addition to Minnesota.
"It was all about who was giving me the most interest," Williams said. "You weigh interest and opportunity together and Minnesota just seemed like the perfect place for me to be.
"Rick Spielman is the Vikings' general manager," Williams said. "He's Chris Spielman's brother. My linebacker coach is going to be Fred Pagac Sr. He played for Ohio State, graduated from Ohio State. His son (Fred Pagac Jr.) was my LEO coach my freshman and sophomore years at college.
"My agent is located in Minneapolis, so, just all those things combined made my decision very easy," Williams said.
"I know they drafted two linebackers, but I'm the type of person who's going to go in there and compete to my fullest capability," Williams said. "I am as hungry as I've ever been. I truly feel that I will be on the field this next season, hopefully fighting for a starting spot.
cont...