Williams gets jump on EWU football career

There wasn't a lot of real coaxing necessary to get hometown Cheney recruit Keenan Williams to stay close by and play college football.

"It feels great to be in town, a lot of the guys have to travel home on weekends and I'm just like 10 minutes away," the incoming Eastern Washington University freshman said.

Williams was born in Longview, Wash., but moved to Cheney when he was three. "My parents both went to Eastern, we lived in the family housing," Williams said. He would go up to the school a great deal and play football on Eastern's fields. "I was a fan before a player."

Williams was a well-known commodity coming out of Cheney High. He was a first team All-Great Northern League selection as both a tight end and defensive lineman.

But in first signing with Eastern, graduating from high school, and playing spring ball for the Eagles in April, Williams earned the distinction as EWU's first-ever high school recruit to participate in spring drills.

Besides effectively being within walking distance of home, there were other factors that made EWU attractive.

"I love the fact that they are winning and a great team, they've got a great culture there," Williams said. "I knew if I came here I'd fit in."

Eastern was far from the only school courting the 6-foot, 3-inch, 260 pound defensive lineman.

"I had offers from Wyoming, Idaho and Montana," Williams said. "I had a lot of the Big Sky schools looking at me, a couple schools said they would offer me if I took a visit." The University of Washington looked at him but never made an offer.

"Out of the Big Sky schools I wasn't going to go anywhere but Eastern," Williams said.

Early graduation came about because of his additional hard work in the classroom, but he was not going to leave CHS until he finished one more thing. "I probably wouldn't have done it if I wasn't able to play basketball," Williams explained. "Bret Rypien from Shadle Park was able to graduate early and go to Boise (State), why can't I do that?"

He took that fast-track to an early diploma with the help of his counselor who helped him enroll in online courses, allowing him to finish in time to do spring ball.

The edge Williams got in spring ball is expected to pay dividends for him. "They pretty much already consider me a veteran," he said.

"Jumping in right away was definitely a little bit intimidating at first," Williams said. "I was always the bigger, stronger guy and now I have to start using technique and everything." The talent pool went "way up," he added.

Williams entered spring drills third on the depth chart but he's closer to second string he thinks. "I'll get significant reps if I'm second team," Williams said.

As a Blackhawk, Williams played tight end, fullback and defensive end. "I did play linebacker one game but I wasn't very good at that; they switched me after that game."

Williams was recruited for the line, but he considers himself to be a pretty good tight end. "Idaho actually offered me as a tight end," Williams said.

While football season cannot get here quick enough on one hand, on the other, Williams knows his life changes forever Aug. 12 when he suits up for drills. "Right now I have all the free time I want," he said.

But soon it will be two-a-day workouts in preparation for the Eagles opener, Sept. 5 at Pac-12 Oregon. "I'm going to be booked so I'm trying to enjoy myself while I still can," Williams said.

As serious on the field as off, Williams is initially looking at pursuing a business degree, "But that's not a solid thing," he said. "I want some kind of degree out of this, hopefully not underwater basket weaving."

Paul Delaney can be reached at pdelaney@cheneyfreepress.com.