Quincy Williams described the transition to the skilled stage as “sticking your head in a beehive.”
He went from the mid-major Murray State Racers to the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars.
In different phrases, a rookie realized he was all of the sudden smaller than he as soon as was — not as quick, expert, athletic, and many others. — in comparison with everybody else.
Now, after six years within the league and coming into his fourth with the Jets, Williams has comfortably transitioned from faculty security to professional linebacker, and he’s having a blast.
“Oh yeah, it’s much more enjoyable, particularly when you’ll be able to name out the performs they usually [the offense] are doing all these motions attempting to trick you and stuff,” Williams mentioned after follow Tuesday.
And it’s extra pleasing whereas being acknowledged for his work ethic, touchdown at No. 32 as the best Jet on the NFL Community’s Prime 100 Gamers of 2024 listing.
“It feels good. It simply exhibits that my preparation and all the things I’m doing off the sector and on the sector is getting the popularity that it deserves,” Williams mentioned. “However it additionally exhibits that I’m heading in the right direction and likewise what I’m doing is working.”
His instincts and talent to anticipate have improved after seeing the identical patterns on repeat, he defined.
Williams even has a contest with C.J. Mosely to see who can guess probably the most performs throughout follow. Mosely is at present beating him.
“Offense is basically the identical, they only attempt to costume it up otherwise,” Williams mentioned. “So, simply having the mindset of what’s going to occur subsequent as a substitute of not what’s happening proper now.”
Head coach Robert Saleh mentioned the sport all of the sudden seems to be like “The Matrix” to Williams — considerably slowed down — which is an enormous distinction from when the linebacker was overrunning performs at first.
“He’s bought his physique transferring sooner than his eyes, and the sport is transferring sooner than his thoughts,” Saleh mentioned Tuesday. “The sport has slowed down a lot for him. He’s bought such elite velocity, elite size and soccer IQ that the sport is transferring at a snail’s tempo for him. … He’s gliding and masking a lot grass, and he’s realized how you can management and tempo. … He’s a particular one.”
Williams was snubbed by the Professional Bowl final 12 months, regardless of having two sacks, two compelled fumbles, an interception and 91 solo tackles, which ranked fifth within the league on the time of the picks in January.
He watched Sauce Gardner and older brother Quinnen Williams every earn their second journey to the sport and completed the 12 months with 95 solo tackles and 15 tackles for a loss.
On the time, Williams mentioned he anticipated to earn it.
Nevertheless, Saleh famous some gamers must be extra affected person than others to get to a sure stage.
“He’s bought all of the athletics instruments. I believe we overlook generally that these guys want time,” Saleh mentioned. “We rejoice the anomalies — the handful of fellows that simply explode onto the scene, they usually turn into nice the second they hit the sector. And there’s some guys that simply take time. It’s OK if it takes two, three, 4 years. … He has all the things you need. … Some guys simply take longer to develop and we’re very lucky.”
After the Professional Bowl snub, Williams needed to go away little doubt that he deserves a nomination this season.
For that, he mentioned he should give attention to consistency, delivering on each play, as a lot as potential.
“I set the usual for myself, so now it’s conserving the identical customary or exceeding that customary,” Williams mentioned.
