After almost a decade Michael Williams is returning home as the new head coach of the Pickens County High School football team. Williams will replace former head coach James Thompson who has become the head coach at Carver-Montgomery after leading the Picken County Tornadoes to back to back Class 1A state runner-ups. Williams graduated from Pickens County in 2008 and headed to Alabama. While at Pickens County Williams was a standout lineman and a two-time all-state player. After redshirting his first year he went on to start the next four years at tight end and was on two national championship teams.
At Alabama, Williams excelled as a blocking tight end and helped block for Trent Richardson, Eddie Lacy, and TJ Yeldon. However, he also contributed in the passing game by catching seven touchdowns in his five years at Alabama. Williams was apart of the offense that produced two 1,000 yard rushers in 2012 with TJ Yeldon and Eddie Lacy.
After graduating from Alabama Williams was drafted in the seventh round by the Detroit Lions in the 2013 NFL Draft. In 2014 after drafting another tight end Williams transitioned to tackle after being a dominant blocker. At 6’6 304 pounds Williams was viewed as a tackle rather than a tight end. In 2015, Williams was traded to the New England Patriots and won a Super Bowl with the team but was released in 2017.
Williams has played under two great head coaches in Nick Saban and Bill Belichick and being hired as a first-time head coach allows Williams to share the knowledge he gained from two legendary coaches. Williams is also closer in age to the students and has experience in college and the NFL. The hiring of Michael Williams as the Pickens County High football coach not only allows the players to learn from someone with experience but gives the team a chance to improve from the point of someone who has played at the school before.
