Darrel Williams played a crucial part in Clyde Edwards-Helaire’s development at the college level.
A pair of former teammates at LSU have been reunited in the NFL on the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs’ first-round draft pick, RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, played one season with Darrel Williams at LSU in 2017. It was the freshman year for Edwards-Helaire, who was just 17 years old at the time. It was the senior season for Williams, and while he’d only start four games, he was a key component of LSU’s rushing attack.
The player who Edwards-Helaire most relied upon to help him build a foundation in college was Williams. Even before Kansas City was in the picture for Edwards-Helaire, he relied on Williams for advice about his future in the NFL.
“I haven’t talked to Tyrann [Mathieu], but I’ve talked to Darrel [Williams] more than anything,” Edwards-Helaire told reporters at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine. “That was a guy I sat by my freshman year in meeting rooms. I pretty much drip, just ask Darrel 1,000 questions, being that annoying freshman in the room. But Darrel, I mean, he helped me a lot. And ultimately to this day, he’s still helping me. Before I came out here, we’re texting and talking and everything, pretty much giving me the rundown about everything. Darrel’s been a huge part of this little circuit I’m going on.”
Williams joined the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent out of LSU in 2018. In two seasons, he’s appeared in 18 games, accumulating 72 touches for 379 scrimmage yards and five touchdowns.
Reunited in Kansas City, Williams could once again find himself as an important piece of Edwards-Helaire’s learning process. He’s likely already had an impact, helping Edwards-Helaire get up to speed on the Chiefs’ playbook during the unique virtual portions of the 2020 offseason.
Williams can teach Edwards-Helaire the intricacies of Andy Reid’s playbook in the same way that he once taught him Matt Canada’s offense at LSU. He can teach him about being a professional and growing up in the NFL.
“Growing up, I was coming in under Darrel in the LSU locker room,” Edwards-Helaire said following the 2020 NFL Draft. “Initially, when I came in, Darrel kind of took me under his wing along with Derrius Guice. Darrel was the person that made me understand playbooks and everything more, I mean I was a 17-year-old kid. I just turned 17 and Darrel was trying to teach me all these things as far as a college offense. Ultimately, I had to learn three different offenses, but Darrel was always there when I was learning the first time. Darrel is a mentor for me. As soon as my name came across the screen [in the draft] Darrel was the first person [to reach out]. He’s a big brother to me.”
With all the competition in the Chiefs’ backfield for 2020, many are skeptical that Williams will make the 53-man roster. If he can continue to make an impact on the field, but also plays an integral role in the development of Edwards-Helaire, he could be an indispensable part of the team moving forward. It pays to have a good mentor in the NFL as a young player. Look no further than what Patrick Mahomes was able to accomplish in the NFL with a good mentor showing him the way in 2017.
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