NFL Draft Diamonds Prospect Interview: Malcolm Williams, CB, Wayne State University

• Name: Malcolm Williams
• Position: CB
• School: Wayne State University
• Height: 5110
• Weight: 195

Tell us about your hometown, and what you love most about it?

I’m born and raised from Detroit, Michigan. What I love most about my city is that we are natural born hustlers and talented. Its nothing but talent all through the city, we’re unique in multiple ways. People are very talented in Detroit, and we’re finally getting some type of exposure. More people are getting their name out in the country and getting the recognition they deserve. Detroit is on the map right now. Detroit is full of hustlers and what I mean by that is we’re go-getters. We don’t wait for handouts at all. People are relentless when it comes to chasing their dreams and money. In Detroit, nothing comes to a person who waits. You have to grind to get what you want in life, that’s all we know.

List these three in order of importance and why: Film Study, Strength and Conditioning and Practice?

I would have to say Film study, practice, and strength and conditioning would be my order of importance. You need to be a condition to even compete at a high level and to keep the same intensity during the whole game without getting fatigued. When you become fatigued, it minimizes your ability to perform at the best of your ability. Practice and film study goes hand-to-hand for me. Proper preparation prevents poor performance. You practice going against the opponents plays then you watch film study, so you can be more familiar with it when you practice against it. So when the game day comes around, you already know to expect and what to look for during certain situations. Strength would be the last order of importance. You need strength to play at a high level but you don’t need to be the strongest person on the field. Strength plays a huge part in receiving hits and delivering hits.

What do you worry about, and why?

What I worry about the most are my family and my city. As much as I love the city and where I come from. I desperately want to move my whole family out of that environment. It’s just too much negative that cycle throughout the city. It’s a lot of jealousy, envy, and violence. I do not want the second generation of my family growing up in that environment and I want to show my family it’s more to life. I want to show them that they can pursue their dreams. Detroit is a very tough and reckless atmosphere that hasn’t change but only got worst. My main goal is to come back and help the city once I make it into the NFL. I want to give back and help my community. It’s not enough mentors and role models, I would like to change that. You never suppose to forget where you came from and you always suppose to give back. I would never turn my back on my city.

Give me an example of when you failed at something. How did you react and how did you overcome failure?

My senior year of high school, my school did not get any exposure at all for any sport. I went 2nd team All-city, we made it to the state playoffs but lost, and I had a good year. However, it was still an accomplishment because my football team only had about 22 players on the team but only about 14 of us actually played. I played kicker (FG, Kickoff), wide receiver, safety, corner, and linebacker. Everyone played at least 3 different positions on the field. I didn’t receive one offer not even from a JUCO. I was a qualifier and had the grades to move on to the next level. So I decided to go the JUCO route which I went to Ventura College in Ventura, CA. I graduated and receive at scholarship which most people I came in with did not do. I never complained about my situation or how my cards were dealt with in life. I just made it happen with hard work and dedication.

What do your teammates say is your best quality?

My best quality that my teammates would say is that I bring the juice as far as being a leader, making people better around me, and being a competitor. I motivated and encourage everybody around to be the best player they can be in the weight room and on the field. I maximum my teammate’s ability. In order to be the best you have to beat the best and that’s always been my mentality in life.

Who is the best player you have ever played against in college?

I would have to say Jayru Campbell would be the best player I played against in College. We played against Ferris State last year and gave them a run for their money. He had some good runs and a couple of good throws against us. He led Ferris State to the D2 Championship game and won the Harlon Hill trophy.

What would your career be if you couldn’t play football? 

I always wanted to be known as a “jack of all trades”. I wanted to do some personal training, massage therapist, author, comedian and create my own business. However, my ultimate occupation would be to become a JUCO head coach. Michigan at one point of time had 1 junior college for football which was Grand Rapids Community College. It was one of the most feared and respected JUCOs in the country. The program had got shut down and it was never another football JUCO in Michigan. I would like to bring one back and dominate like how we use too.  Mid-west athletes don’t get the respect they deserve. I also want to help young African Americans better themselves as a person and an athlete. Football is deeper than just winning games and championships. 

Room, desk, and car – which do you clean first?

I would Clean my room first because that’s what I wake up every day in. 

If there was a disaster and you could either save three strangers or one family member, which would you choose and why?

In a disaster, I would save one family member. My family means the world to me, I love them with all my heart. I would do any and everything for them. I know they would give me the same love in return.

If you could be any television or movie character, who would you be and why?

Black Panther is the movie character I would pick to be. Black Panther is one of the greatest black superheroes in the comic book era. He stands for his people and what he believes in. He is intelligent, brave, a leader, honorable, and Family oriented. He put his people first before himself. If you watched the movie, he faces many adversities that he overcame. He never let any obstacle overwhelm him.

Tell me about your biggest adversity in life and how you’ve dealt with or overcome it?

The biggest adversity in life that I had overcome was going to play JUCO at Ventura College in Ventura, CA. The reason being is that it was the first time I left the state to go live on my own. Second, no California JUCOs give out scholarships and only a couple of them have dorms but my JUCO did not have a dorm system. Third, California is one of the most expensive states in the country, that plays a huge part. It was extremely hard to graduate and receive a scholarship during that time. Majority of my teammates from both my Freshman and Sophomore year did not graduate or transfer. This experience was humbling and made me into a man. It showed me that no matter how hard the circumstances are, I can always persevere and get through them. JUCO is not for everybody, I see a lot of people give up in that lifestyle but I never did.

What is your most embarrassing moment?

When I had a swim class in middle school and my trunks were too big one day. I had my older brother swim trunks on because mine wasn’t clean. I and the class was getting out of the pool and I got out of the pool but my trunks didn’t.

What was the most memorable play of your collegiate career?

The most memorable play of my Collegiate career is when I caught a pick-six in the last home game of my senior year. It was senior day and I wanted to leave my presence felt after the game was over. My mother was in attendance and I always told her that I would get a pick-six for her. She’s my biggest fan and I just wanted to make her proud.

What song Best describes your work ethic?

Meek Mill – Dreams and Nightmares 

No matter how hard life gets and how tough the adversities you’re facing. Never give up and never settle because life is worth chasing your dream until you achieve it. No matter how long it takes. 

What is the most important trait you can have (Physical or Non-Physical) to help you succeed at the next level? 

My competitive nature. I want to be the best in everything I do and I won’t let anyone stop me from accomplishing my goals.  

If you could bring one person back from the dead for one day, who would it be and why?

I would bring back my brother, Atiba Williams, when my brother left this earth I was young. I never really created a relationship with him since we had different mothers. He was rarely at my parent’s house. However, we had a lot of things in common. I didn’t know that then but the more people talk about him, the more I see myself in him. 

If you were to open a dance club, what would you name it? 

Big Mal’s Boom Boom Room. If you ever saw LIFE staring Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence, you’ll get it. That movie is a classic. Big Mal is my nickname people have given me.

Who is the most underrated player in the NFL? 

Tyrann Mathieu is the most underrated player in the NFL. Tyrann does not get enough credit on how good he is. Granted injuries have ended a lot of his seasons early. However, if you look at his stats and plays before his injuries, he is arguable one of the best safeties in the game. His versatility and heart cannot match. He just signed a big contract with the chiefs, watch what he does this upcoming season. He will shock the world. People forget but he will wake them up again.

Would you rather be liked or respected, and why?

All my life I will rather be respected than liked. If people respect you than they trust you. They value your word and actually take you seriously. Being liked doesn’t hold any weight or value. People can like you one day and hate you the next day but respect last forever. That why respect is earned and not given.

What player who had his career derailed by off-field issues do you feel for the most and why?

Josh Gordon. I feel as if one of the hardest things to do in life is to let go of an addiction. Once you are used to coping pain with drugs, it’s hard to break because that’s all you know. I know a lot of people who suffer from drugs addiction and could never kick it. Josh Gordon at one point was the best receiver in the league. He had a very promising career but could never get over the hump of his addiction. This one hit close to home. I know a lot of people in my city that let drugs get the best of them. Mental illness is a serious issue that is not addressed as it should be.

Do you love to win, or hate to lose? 

Hate to lose 

Who has been the biggest influence on your life and explain why?

My mother is the biggest influencer in my life. She is by far the hardest working woman I know. She showed me what it takes to reach all your goals. My mother has accomplished a lot in life and still strives for more. My mother comes from a household of 20 people in her childhood. She started from the bottom and worked her way up to the top. I’m forever grateful to have such an influential and hardworking person in my life. All I ever wanted to do is make her proud, just like how she made her mother proud. I would be where I’m at in life if it wasn’t for my mother, she never gave up on me.