‘They are still there for me:’ Family, friends drive Deontai Williams’ football journey

Deontai Williams has a lot of people to thank for helping him on his football journey.

“The most I could take out of (my journey) was my support system,” the Saskatchewan Roughriders defensive back said. “They are still there for me.”

That journey has led to him to a starting spot in the Riders’ secondary, after being thrust into action in Week 2. Williams and the Riders will try to earn a win over the Edmonton Elks at Mosaic Stadium on Thursday. Kickoff for the game is set for 7 p.m.

The 26-year-old said he started playing football to follow in the footsteps of his dad, Roosevelt Williams, who was drafted in the third round by the Chicago Bears in 2002. The elder Williams also played with the Denver Broncos, Cleveland Browns and New York Jets. In 2006, he also had a stint with Edmonton in the CFL.

“I always had that ambition to go and be like my dad,” Williams said. “Football was life to me since birth – that’s what my mom always said.”

But with his dad playing in the NFL, Williams said he had to take on plenty of extra responsibility at home.

“I had to step up and be that man of the house. We had no other father figure in the house, so I had to step up and be that example for my brothers and sisters,” Williams said. “Let them know you don’t have to take where you are at and feel like you’re trapped.

“You can go and do something, go somewhere else and make something out of your life. Be that example for them, and that’s what I did.”

With his mom facing struggles at home caring for five kids, Williams said he moved in with his coach Shawn Tipton when he was in the eighth grade. Tipton had coached him since he was four.

“I’m the oldest, and it’s hard to watch all five kids. Football took me on a long journey bettering my life. Football has done a lot in my life, and leading to me becoming the man I am now,” he said.

“I was grateful to have a coach that loved me like a son and took care of me and made sure I got to the place where I wanted to be and let me live out my dream.”

While Williams played his college football at Nebraska as a member of the Cornhuskers, he said he had other aspirations originally, especially growing up in Jacksonville.

“The Florida Gators are right there 45 minutes away from my home, so my dream was to play for the Florida Gators,” Williams said. “I committed to the Florida Gators twice and then got injured in (junior college) and then they dropped my offer.”

Part of the reason why Williams had to go the junior college route and play two seasons in Mississippi was because he didn’t get the grades needed to play at the NCAA level.

“That was just me having a big head. I was highly recruited out of high school (and) had everything that I wanted. I didn’t apply myself in school like I applied myself on the football field, and that came and hurt me,” Williams said. “It brought me back and let me know you have to take care of other things instead of just playing football.”

Williams said he had other offers, but ultimately chose Nebraska after a 2 a.m. call with his dad.

“They told me to get on another plane to Nebraska,” Williams said.

In 29 games as a member of the Cornhuskers, Williams recorded 122 tackles, one sack, six interceptions, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

Williams didn’t get drafted into the NFL, but attended 2022 training camp with the Seattle Seahawks

“It was just me getting a chance,” Williams said.

“All the reps I took, I was doing great. I came to the final cuts and they took a guy that was younger than me. That’s how the business goes.”

Williams said the Riders had reached out to him earlier, but he didn’t choose to come to the CFL at first.

“Me, being stubborn, I wanted to play in the NFL and wanted to see if I could get another shot,” Williams said. “Days go by, weeks go by, months go by and I’m like, ‘Man, I’m never going to play football again.’

“I thought maybe going to Saskatchewan is the right choice for me – maybe that’s the path that God wants me to go. I signed the contract, and now I’m here, and I appreciate it and I love it here.”

Williams attended camp in Saskatoon this year, and was originally a practice roster player. But an injury to defensive back Nic Marshall in Week 1 meant he made his CFL debut in Week 2 against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

And, as luck would have it, his family and former coach were in attendance for the game at Mosaic Stadium.

“It was crazy. I felt like that was all God’s plan, because they were going to come up here regardless if I was playing or not,” Williams said.

He said seeing those faces in the crowd cemented the fact that he couldn’t have made it all this way on his own.

“You have to continue to go, even if it’s not going your way,” Williams said. “You know someone has your back at the end of the day, so it was my goal to always try to make it.”