'It's really up to you now': NFL legacy Tramon Williams Jr. readies for high school career
Tramon Williams never experienced a true recruiting process.
The 14-year NFL veteran walked on at Louisiana Tech in the early 2000s. So when it turned to his two children’s blossoming athletic careers, he’s learned at the same time as them.
“My son going through this phase is almost gonna be like me going through it for the first time myself,” Williams said. “It’s pretty cool to get a chance for him to experience at an early age.”
At 14 years old, Tramon Williams Jr. has already started to garner attention from Division-I programs, receiving his first offer in seventh grade. As a 6-foot-2, 185-pound rising freshman at Sugar Land (Tex.) Fort Bend Christian Academy, he has the size and build that coaches have sought after in the 2029 class.
Nearby Texas Southern joined his recruitment first. Nearly a year later, Houston, Missouri and Pittsburgh all jumped in as well. Tigers running backs coach Curtis Luper, a Texas recruiter, offered Williams Jr.
“As I always talk to him about, I say, ‘It’s really up to you now,'” the older Williams said. “You get eyes on you, it’s up to you to take your craft and put your craft together and take it serious and pretty much do what you want to do.”
“I was excited when I got that off,” Williams Jr. added on Missouri. “It’s just cool to be known to coaches in the SEC.”
Freshman year approaches
Naturally, Williams Jr. has shown more of a reserved nature. His father has expressed more of the excitement early on for his son, who is known as “T2”. They have conversations about the positives of early offers, while also recognizing the bigger picture.
“It really don’t mean nothing,” the father said. “It just means that people have their eyes on you right now. It’s still up to you to do the work that you need to do to continue to get guys to believe in you and believe that the ability that you have is worth them coming to watch you, worth them to pay for your school, worth them to give you opportunity to go even further.”
Even with the humbleness he’s carried, Williams Jr. has sounded excited for his freshman season. He hasn’t put a focus on one side of the ball just yet, looking to contribute in the secondary and at wide receiver this fall.
“I’ve picked up a lot from watching him,” Williams Jr. said of his father. “I’ve picked up more from him teaching me all that he knows.”
The Williams Way
Williams Jr. isn’t the only rising athlete in his family. His sister, Trinity Williams, broke the Adidas Middle School Outdoor Nationals’ girls 400-meter dash record with a time of 55.19 seconds. Their mother, Shantrell Moore, also brought athletic genes to the family, winning the WAC Player of the Year her senior basketball season at Louisiana Tech.
“One of my goals was always to to be able to retire and not let the game retire me,” the eldest Williams said. “I still want to be able to run around in the backyard or coach them up and be able to show them the things that they need to learn. I still want to be able to do that as a father, as a coach, play all of those different roles, wear those different hats. And the fact that I get a chance to do that, it’s one of those things that you dream about more than anything.”
Williams has enjoyed this new process with his son and daughter. He’s recognized his son’s ability, but he’s also used his own experiences to better his son’s journey. Starting to train both of his children, the Super Bowl Champion has also pushed his son to find a balance.
“I knew a bunch of football players who were way better than what I was, but for whatever reason, they didn’t make it,” Williams said. “It ain’t just about the ability. It’s about being a good student, having good characters, about having integrity. It’s about having all of those things and staying on the path that God really created for you. If he can do that, man, I’m telling you, the sky’s the limit for him.”
