Name game
For CM's Williams, football's in the family
Walk on to the Catholic Memorial Field and you will see it's difficult to miss Brennan Williams. At 6 feet 6 inches, 275 pounds, he looks more like a freight train than the humble, polite anchor of the Knights' offensive line. Stay for a little and you will notice it's equally difficult to miss what makes him one of the top football prospects in New England
"Brennan's a big, strong, talented kid who competes on the football field and in the classroom," said CM coach and athletic director Alex Campea. "He's got a world of potential."
Heading into his senior year as a two-way lineman for the Knights, Williams is showcasing why he is being recruited by several top Division 1 football schools, narrowing his list to Boston College, Wake Forest, and Virginia. His incredible quickness and razor-sharp technique complement his impressive size in making him one of the most sought after high school players in Massachusetts. It also earned him Catholic Conference All-Star honors during CM's 6-4 '07 season. Of course, he has more than just physical attributes on his side.
"My dad played football, so I've always been around football," Williams said, referring to his father Brent, who is a volunteer assistant coach at CM. Brent was an NFL defensive lineman for 11 years, suiting up for the New England Patriots, Seattle Seahawks, and New York Jets, compiling 45.5 sacks in his professional career. "It wasn't much of a surprise when I started playing football. He's been my coach for basically my entire life. He's been my biggest influence."
With his father's career casting a shadow over him, Williams recognizes that people expect him to succeed. The pressure, however, seems to roll off his mountainous shoulders.
"If I screw up, I screw up, I don't worry about it. I try to do the best I can," said Williams, soaked in as much humility as he was sweat after a recent tough practice.
Williams, as most offensive lineman do, blocks any praise and defers to the skill players who rack up flashy stats thanks to the backbreaking work of those in the trenches. Still, he stands out as one of the top players at any position in the Northeast. His season gets underway Sept. 12 at Boston Latin.
With everyone around him praising him, what does he think of himself? "I don't like describing myself," an embarrassed Williams muttered.
That's OK. His captivating play does more than enough talking for him. 