Ironton Tribune
Published: Jan 21, 2006 - 10:25:09 pm CST Sports
Ironton’s Williams earns spot on Buckeyes roster
By JIM WALKER/Tribune Sports Editor
Saturday, January 21, 2006 10:25 PM CST
Some are called. Few are chosen.
A total of 52 players battled for a chance to be a walkon for the Ohio State Buckeyes, but only seven were selected.
Marcus Williams was one of the chosen few.
Williams, the former All-Ohio defensive back for the Ironton Fighting Tigers, spent the past season in preparation to make the Buckeyes roster.
“I decided to do it before Christmas break. I thought they would be the first of March. I didn’t know it would be this early,” Wililams said.
“When I got back to school, I called the football office and they said they were having a meeting Friday 13. They did a background check to make sure we were eligible and put up a list on Wednesday. It caught me off guard. I hadn’t been running that much. I had been lifting.”
After running for several days, the 5-foot-11, 185-pound Williams went to the tryout on Wednesday and ran well in sprints and gassers (long sprints).
“When we got to endurance, I won more than half the sprints. I think that kind of caught their eye. They posted the names at noon and I went to check and one of them was mine.”
Williams passed up several small college offers to attend Ohio State as a student. But realizing how much he missed the game, Williams decided to make a push to earn a spot on the roster.
“The whole time I thought I would eventually try it. I wanted to get the feeling if I wanted to try it and I did,” Williams said.
Tyler Whaley, another former Ironton player, has been a member of the Buckeyes for the past three seasons. He will be a redshirt junior center next season and could earn some playing time. Williams is hoping for a similar scenario.
“I’ve talked to Tyler and he told me what to expect. I kind of want to follow Tank’s footsteps. I don’t care what position they put me at, my goal is to be on special teams,” Williams said.
Team workouts begin Tuesday and Williams can’t wait.
“I’m kind of nervous because I don’t know what to expect. It’ll be a casual workout for them but it’ll be tough for me,” Williams said.
Williams is the son of Bobby and Mary Williams of Ironton.
Walk-on RB Marcus Williams (official thread)
