STATESBORO — It looks like a misspelling to everyone except Georgia Southern’s Antwione Williams.
He got a good laugh after practice Thursday morning and confirmed that’s how his first name is spelled.
“It looks right to me,” Williams said. “I didn’t notice it was spelled funny until the fifth grade. My teacher kept writing my name down wrong and one day I said, “It’s IONE” and she was like, ‘What?’”
Williams is accustomed to explaining things. He is a starter at the Eagles’ “buck” linebacker position or the nine technique. To add a little more confusion, GSU coaches like him at will linebacker as well.
So Williams is double training, which on two-a-day workouts means, along with the extra spelling and multiplication knowledge needed, a fan could use a GSU defensive handbook to figure out when, where and why No. 37 is lining up.
Williams, a 6-foot-3, 226-pound junior from Lovejoy High School, simplifies the process. He’s big enough to play the strongside outside linebacker (over the tight end) or buck in the Eagles’ base defense against traditional I-formation power offenses.
“His frame and his size are perfect for that position,” GSU co-defensive coordinator Kevin Corless said.
But the Eagles get a BOGO special with Williams, who has the speed and agility to play the other outside linebacker position (or will linebacker) when the team goes to a nickel package against passing attacks.
Williams is battling senior Kyle Oehlbeck for the starting job there.
“He’s a rare bird in terms of having that size and still being agile and athletic enough and run well enough (to play two positions),” Corless said.
Williams played in all 14 games last season and started three. He is the sixth-leading returning tackler with 32 stops. He also had three pass breakups and one tackle for loss.
He sees his role expanding this season, particularly for a unit searching for leadership after highly regarded safeties J.J. Wilcox and Darius Eubanks and defensive lineman Brent Russell finished their eligibility.
“We have several guys who are leading right now — (defensive linemen) Blake Riley, Javon (Mention). I see myself in that category,” Williams said. “We really have to play as a unit now because we won’t have people to lean on to make big plays. Everyone has to be ready to make a play.”
Notes
Georgia Southern had morning and afternoon workouts on Thursday.
Eagles coach Jeff Monken said he’s been impressed with several newcomers including quarterbacks Favian Upshaw and LA Ramsby.
Upshaw is a transfer from Florida International. Ramsby is a true freshman out of Cincinnati’s Colerain High School, where he threw for 1,649 yards and 16 touchdowns and ran for 1,688 yards and 18 touchdowns.
Former Thomson star Chris Jordan has been a bright spot at fullback. He ran for 2,046 yards and 20 touchdowns at Thomson last season.
Freshman Andy Kwon, out of North Gwinnett, and defensive lineman Rafael Hardee, from Camden County, are making pushes for playing time as well.