Without looking it up, which player led Syracuse in pass breakups in 2020?
It wasn’t Ifeatu Melifonwu, the cornerback taken in the third round by the Lions in the 2021 NFL draft. It also wasn’t Dolphins free agent signing Trill Williams, nor was it Jaguars third-round pick Andre Cisco, who missed much of the season due to injury.
No, that player was Garrett Williams, a rising redshirt sophomore who stepped into the Orange’s starting lineup and put together a freshman All-American season.
As Williams prepares to take on a leadership role with the departures around him in Syracuse’s secondary, he finds himself as one of the top cornerbacks not just in the ACC, but in all of college football. Eligible for the 2022 NFL draft, the 5-foot-11, 188-pound playmaker looks to build upon his impressive collegiate debut and solidify himself as an early-round draft pick.
Draft Wire had the chance to speak with Williams about his freshman year, his pre-snap and post-snap process, which NFL cornerback he idolizes most, and much more.
JI: You got to work with a stacked Syracuse DB group last year that had three guys go to the NFL. How did working with them help you as a redshirt freshman last year?
GW: It did a lot for me. They showed me all the little things you need to do to be able to be successful in college that not everybody else is doing. They taught me how to watch film the right way to where you’re actually gaining knowledge. A lot of people can say they’re watching film but just kind of watch the game and not really be taking notes and understanding what they’re really looking at. Also, they just taught me how to do the little things like extra work after practice, extra lifts after lifts, things like that [are] how you get to where you want to go, so I’m really appreciative of being able to have those guys around me.
JI: Now that they’re gone, have you had to step into more of a leadership role, being one of the more experienced starters in that secondary?
GW: Yeah, for sure, and it’s been something I’ve really looked forward to doing, and I feel comfortable being in that role. We have a younger secondary that might not have a lot of experience, but we also have a really talented secondary, as well, so it’s been good to just be able to help guys as much as I can and give them all the advice I got in the past.
JI: You had a really good year, too. You were named a freshman All-American, and honorable mention All-ACC in your first full year playing. What was it like to get all those accomplishments right out of the gate?
GW: Obviously, it was a really big honor. It felt good because I knew how much I put into it, into my craft and getting better each day. [To get] rewarded at the end was a good feeling, but at the same time, I know there’s a lot more work that needs to be done because at the end of the day, I didn’t get all of the accolades I feel like I can get in my career. It’s really a chance to keep getting better and better.
JI: Do you have any specific team or individual goals you’ve set for yourself heading into next year?
GW: I want to make a bowl game. That’s the biggest thing for me, because I feel like a key part of us making a bowl game is me playing at a high level, so if we make a bowl game, I know that my stats are going to be where they need to be. I know everything is going to take care of itself. I just want to win, and I want to be a part in being able to say that I played a big role in getting Syracuse back to where everybody wants it to be.
JI: You’re lining up against a receiver. There are a lot of factors into what coverage you’re playing, but what are the first things you’re looking at pre-snap, and right as the receiver shoots off the line of scrimmage?
GW: I’m looking at down and distance, because down and distance dictates a lot of play calls and route concepts, things of that sort. Then, I’m looking at the formation, whether it’s 2×2, 3×1 personnel, and I’m also looking at the demeanor of the receivers as they come out. It’s also important to know where you’re at on the field because certain play calls are more prevalent in certain areas. For example, you’re going to see a lot more double moves and shot calls when in between the 40s and when the offense is backed up on the goal line. Having to know the little things like that takes a far distance.
When receivers are coming off the line running their routes, you want to key their quarterback to see their drop back. If it’s a three-step drop, it’s going to be quick in, or if they’re taking a five-step drop in a deep play action to where that’s going to be your deeper routes.
JI: Obviously, both have an important role, but if you had to choose between the two, which would you prioritize: Film study or physical preparation?
GW: I would 100 percent choose mental preparation, because when you’re immensely prepared in a game and you know what’s coming, you’re going to be really reacting more than thinking about what you’re doing. There’s no better feeling than being confident going into a game knowing that you know what to expect and that you can succeed when those plays come to you. Obviously, it’s good to be physically prepared – that goes without saying – but there’s no better feeling than when a team comes out in a formation that you automatically know what concept they’re about to run, and you make a play. That brings your confidence for the rest of the game to a different level.
JI: Are there any cornerbacks that you’ve grown up idolizing or even emulating in your own play?
GW: Yeah, I’ve watched a good, solid group of corners, and they all are similar to my size, because I feel like you don’t gain as much watching someone that doesn’t play similar to your style and have a similar build. I’m a big fan of Jaire Alexander, Tre’Davious White, Denzel Ward, Jeff Gladney, and then Jeff Okudah, as well. That’s really my favorite group of guys to watch, and I’d watch them the night before every game, seeing them make plays and knowing how similar I am to them physically.
JI: I’ve seen people saying that your game has shades of Jaire Alexander. Can you speak a little to that comparison and what you think your games have in common?
GW: I think one of the biggest things that stand out in similarities is how quick our feet are, whether in press or getting in and out of our breaks. On top of that, I think another thing that stands out is the physicality at the cornerback position from both of us: not being afraid to tackle, getting our nose involved in things, and making plays in the run, being another defender in the run and not just being another guy on defense. I really try to make plays in the run game because I pride myself on making plays in the run [game], and I think that’s what separates me from a lot of these corners in the country.
JI: Nowadays, it seems like there’s so much emphasis on coverage that it’s somewhat of a lost art to have a cornerback who’s able to make plays against the run. Do you agree?
GW: 100 percent. My position coach, Coach [Chip] West, he emphasizes being a factor in the run game heavily, and I agree with him. When you’re playing defense, you should be able to help the team in every way, so from a corner’s perspective, you need to be able to cover man, have good zone eyes, and you also need to be able to make plays in the run. You need 11 people to stop the offense you play.
JI: How do you like to spend your free time outside of football?
GW: I’m usually asleep [laughs]. I’m sleeping, playing on my PS5. Especially during the summer time, I’m finishing my classes right now, so I’m just chilling. I love listening to music, playing video games and sleeping if I’m not doing something involving football. I feel like that’s important, too, to have balance and have time for yourself and not be 24/7 football, because that’s how you get burned out.
JI: Do you have a go-to song or artist you listen to pre-game to pump yourself up? What kind of music do you listen to on your own?
GW: For me, before the game, I usually listen to Lil Baby, Polo G, and I listen to Rod Wave before games, too. When I’m by myself, I usually listen to the same type of music, but then I also listen to more relaxed music where it’s not all upbeat rap. It’s really chill music when I’m by myself.
JI: You have a lot of time before you have to figure out your NFL situation, but heading into this season, what are you looking to prove to NFL teams?
GW: First, I want to prove that I’m the best corner in the [ACC]. I just want to show consistency more than anything, to clean up bad plays that just came off of whether I was tired from playing a lot of snaps. I just want to show that I’m consistently a solid football player and that I’ll always be in the right position at the right time and that I’m going to stay true to my technique, whether I’m tired or not. I think if I do that, with my stats and everything, it’s going to be more than enough to show people the type of player I am.
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