After going through Wednesday’s drills in a session that was closed to the media, Miami Hurricanes starting QB Jarren Williams spoke on his preparations for the Florida Gators as the game creeps closer and closer.
“It definitely feels more real now than it did a week ago. Me and the guys, we’re just taking it one day, one step at a time. So, we’re ready… From Monday to now, I feel a lot better with the game plan. We’ve been able to go over it and rep it, rep it, rep it. I’ve had a chance to watch film and really get a better understanding, so I’m feeling really good about the game plan.”
Williams is well-aware of what the implications would be for the season if Miami wins against the Gators, so he has focused in hard on what he can control.
“We know it’s a big game, but our focus is that one play at that one time,” Williams said. “We tune out all the noise and are just going to focus on our assignment.”
How has his life been different since being named the starter?
“I have a lot of family and friends that texted me and called me, let me know they’re very proud of me for all the hard work I put in,” Williams said. “It means a lot. I did get a lot of messages and phone calls.”
Aside from family and friends, former Hurricanes QB’s such as Brad Kaaya, Stephen Morris, and Malik Rosier also offered their congratulations and have formed a group chat with Williams as well.
“They really just told me `Be confident and be you, this is a moment you prepared your whole life for, don’t let the moment get too big for you,’” Williams said. “Brad and them tell me just go out there and be you and have fun with it. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, so just take advantage of it.”
It hasn’t been all sunshine and roses for Williams at Miami, though. Last season in his true freshman year, there were times where he was down on himself for not playing and seriously considered transferring. However, Williams decided to stick it out in the end, and feels the entire team had a mindset shift when Manny Diaz was named the head coach.
“I’d say that in January, when we knew coach Diaz was the head coach, the whole mindset started to change for everybody,” Williams said. “And my mindset was `I’m going to come here and work, compete every day.’”
Former Hurricanes head coach Jimmy Johnson was at practice today and spent some 1-on-1 time with Williams.
“He’s a great guy. I love him,” Williams said of Johnson. “He just said to me, ‘Protect the ball.’ He said, ‘I like the way you spin the ball.’ He said some nice things and really just said, ‘Take it one step, one play at a time. Don’t let the moment get too big.’… He fired me up.”
“It definitely feels more real now than it did a week ago. Me and the guys, we’re just taking it one day, one step at a time. So, we’re ready… From Monday to now, I feel a lot better with the game plan. We’ve been able to go over it and rep it, rep it, rep it. I’ve had a chance to watch film and really get a better understanding, so I’m feeling really good about the game plan.”
Williams is well-aware of what the implications would be for the season if Miami wins against the Gators, so he has focused in hard on what he can control.
“We know it’s a big game, but our focus is that one play at that one time,” Williams said. “We tune out all the noise and are just going to focus on our assignment.”
How has his life been different since being named the starter?
“I have a lot of family and friends that texted me and called me, let me know they’re very proud of me for all the hard work I put in,” Williams said. “It means a lot. I did get a lot of messages and phone calls.”
Aside from family and friends, former Hurricanes QB’s such as Brad Kaaya, Stephen Morris, and Malik Rosier also offered their congratulations and have formed a group chat with Williams as well.
“They really just told me `Be confident and be you, this is a moment you prepared your whole life for, don’t let the moment get too big for you,’” Williams said. “Brad and them tell me just go out there and be you and have fun with it. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, so just take advantage of it.”
It hasn’t been all sunshine and roses for Williams at Miami, though. Last season in his true freshman year, there were times where he was down on himself for not playing and seriously considered transferring. However, Williams decided to stick it out in the end, and feels the entire team had a mindset shift when Manny Diaz was named the head coach.
“I’d say that in January, when we knew coach Diaz was the head coach, the whole mindset started to change for everybody,” Williams said. “And my mindset was `I’m going to come here and work, compete every day.’”
Former Hurricanes head coach Jimmy Johnson was at practice today and spent some 1-on-1 time with Williams.
“He’s a great guy. I love him,” Williams said of Johnson. “He just said to me, ‘Protect the ball.’ He said, ‘I like the way you spin the ball.’ He said some nice things and really just said, ‘Take it one step, one play at a time. Don’t let the moment get too big.’… He fired me up.”
