Miami's Williams embraces move to center

The junior is looking to become the best center in the entire MAC.

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By Pete Conrad, Staff Writer Updated 12:33 AM Thursday, September 15, 2011

OXFORD — When JoJo Williams signed a letter of intent to play on the defensive line at Miami University, former coach Michael Haywood said he was “a pit bull because he is relentless.”

Now Williams is a junior playing for coach Don Treadwell and he’s as relentless as ever, only now at a position he hasn’t played since he was 12.

The 6-foot-2, 278-pound native of Houston, Texas, will make his second straight start at center on Saturday when the RedHawks take on Minnesota.

Williams will play despite suffering a mild concussion and being forced out of the opener at Missouri.

“I’m good, I’m 100 percent,” he said, noting that his removal from the game “was more of a precautionary measure.”

It happened, he said, when “we were running a screen pass. I saw the safety and dove at him and simultaneously got a knee to the back of my head.”

Williams said he started playing center in his first year of Pee Wee football.

“I was 7 or 8 years old,” he said. “I played center until I was 12.”

He played both offense and defense in high school and was planning to be an offensive guard at Connecticut.

Williams, however, knew Haywood. When Haywood was named Miami’s coach, Williams decided to come to Oxford and play defense.

Last season he was switched back to offense and made one start at left guard. Otherwise he did not see much action.

“I was a part of the team but not really playing, so I had a hunger,” Williams said.

“There was a lot of senior leadership (on the offensive line),” he said, “and sometimes you have to pay your dues and wait your turn.”

After Treadwell arrived as Miami’s new coach, Williams was given a chance to play center. Last year’s center, Brad Bednar, was moved to tackle.

“(Treadwell) told me my goal should be to become the best center in the conference,” Williams said. “This is a golden opportunity and I’m trying to take advantage of it.

“I think I do a good job of communicating, and I’m good with my footwork,” he said. “I’m not going to be the biggest or strongest lineman, but if you can get your feet in the right place, that’s half the battle.”

Next game

Who: Miami RedHawks (0-1) at Minnesota Golden Gophers (0-2)

When: 3:30 p.m. Saturday

Where: TCF Bank Stadium (50,805), Minneapolis, Minn.

TV: Big Ten Network

Radio: WMOH-AM (1450), WDBZ-AM (1230)

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