Ian Williams is a three-year starter at cornerback for the Fordham football team. Last season he earned Second Team All-Patriot League honors after leading the Rams in solo tackles. He also had five interceptions. He is putting together another strong season this year, and is currently ranked second on the team in total tackles. Williams also serves as a team captain.
The Fordham Ram: Fordham was the only school to offer you a scholarship, is that right? What would you have done if Fordham didn’t offer you a scholarship?
Ian Williams: I’m not really sure. God just blessed it to work out in my favor, so that’s awesome.
TFR: And I know Sam Ajala was in the same situation. So I guess a lot of credit goes to the previous coaching staff for finding those sort of diamonds in the rough.
IW: Yeah, definitely. It was actually [former Fordham assistant] Coach [Custavious] Patterson who was looking at an all-star game I was picked to be in. He saw me over there and then he came to my school the next day. He had me fly up a couple weeks later to see the school and it just fell into place.
TFR: So I guess it really changed your life to have this opportunity.
IW: Definitely, definitely. It’s awesome and it’s a blessing. Every day I give credit to God for this opening up for me.
TFR: One of the things I like about you — off the field you’re a really nice, friendly guy. But on the field, I always see you jawing a little bit. Is there a switch you flip when you go on the field?
IW: My favorite player is [former NFL safety] Brian Dawkins. They always say that he’s a gentleman off the field, but he’s a man amongst boys on the field. I just ask God to give me courage and bravery on the field. I just try to be a man amongst boys on the field, too. Off the field, I try to be as respectful as I can, because I know that’s how I would want [someone to treat] my mom or my sister.
TFR: What’s it like being a leader on this team?
IW: It’s awesome. I had to work on it a lot, I’ve got to say. I’m mostly, I would say, a quiet person. But I’ve worked at it and we’ve been going to leadership academies and things like that. I feel like I can be a little more vocal at certain points in the game, when I see we need it most. Right before the game, I like to get riled up, hype the boys up a little bit.
TFR: What’s your favorite memory at Fordham?
IW: I know I like chilling with my boys like [linebacker] Jake [Rodrigues] and [offensive lineman] Steve [Tapia]. I know this summer we all hung out. It was nice to just chill with them. We went to a movie, we went to dinner, ate nicely. That’s always a good time, because those are my brothers. It just made me realize we’re graduating this year — we don’t know where we’re going in life. It was good to see how far we’ve come from freshmen to seniors, just to know those boys made an impact on my life. I’ll be friends with them forever and I’ll always remember those boys. Whenever they need something, they can call me.
TFR: What about your favorite memory on the field?
IW: Today [against Holy Cross], besides the last play where I got caught up for a touchdown. [Laughs.] It’s awesome — because when I was a sophomore we were 1-10 — just to see how far this program has come. I love these boys that are on the team, I love my brothers, I love the coaching staff. It’s just awesome to see how many steps we’ve taken to become great. I’m not saying we’re the best team out there, but that’s the way we’re headed.
