Vontrell King-Williams Q&A: Coaching style, hitting on transfers and much more
AUBURN — Vontrell King-Williams was sad to see friend and colleague Jeremy Garrett leave for the NFL, but he’s thrilled to take over coaching the defensive tackles for Auburn this season.
King-Williams sat down and spoke to the media in Wednesday as the Tigers’ spring camp gets ramped up. Here’s a large chunk of what he had to say:
How does it feel taking over for Jeremy Garrett?
“It doesn’t feel much different. I’ve been involved with those guys lives and coaching them. I’ve been around so I know most of the guys and had a hand in recruiting the guys that are here. The biggest difference is it’s now all one you. It still feels the game.”
What did Garrett mean to you?
“JG was like my best friend. When he left, people were upset and sad, but I shed some tears when I dapped him up and he left the building for the final time. That’s my guy. He was a pivotal part of me coming here and I thought the world of him. Professionally, I don’t know if I learned more about D-line play than this past year with him. HE taught me a lot about teaching, patience and development, and truthfully, he was the rock for me to get this opportunity. I love that guy.”
Is there going to be many differences between yourself and Garrett?
“I think it comes down to scheme wise, I thought our scheme last year was solid. Our scheme this year is really, really good, because it allows our guys to play with freedom. I’m going to continue to be the same guy. I’ll be energetic, I’ll be out there yelling, I’ll also encourage, that’s who I am. Techniques won’t change. JG and I collaborated, so we built it all together last year. It’ll be the same deal.”
What are your early impressions of DJ Durkin?
“Durkin is awesome. That’s the first thing I’ll start with. He’s awesome. Getting the opportunity to interview with him, he gave me the immediate feedback, he was a pivotal piece in me getting the job. Our staff camaraderie has been awesome. He’s a great leader, he’s detailed, he coaches the coaches, he makes sure we’re on the same page. It’s been great to have him here.”
What are your early impressions of the transfers?
“When you look at Trill Carter, Gage Keys, even younger guys like DJ reed — they are able to make plays because it’s so simple. It allows those guys to play with freedom. We’re going to teach them techniques and you can’t mess up, but at the same time, we’re not just here to take on double teams. We’re going to go and make plays. I think that is a pivotal piece. When the system is tough, it’s hard for freshmen to learn. That’s the truth. It’s hard for young guys to come in and play when it’s a tough system. I think that’s one of the best things we have.”
What is your style of coaching?
“I’ve been coached by a lot of people. Some of my coaching staffs have been a mixture of what I like and what I didn’t like. I know I ran through a brick wall for guys that believed in me and gave me positive feedback, and guys that kept it real for me. I’m encouraging, sometimes it’s tough love. When I get on you, I’m going to love you even harder. That’s my model and how I like to coach.”
What do you think about Kansas transfer Gage Keys and Texas transfer Trill Carter?
“I absolutely love Gage and I absolutely love Trill. Those guys have been, they have done some things that will put them in good situations. We still have to fix some technique things, but those transfers, we’ve hit on those two transfers for sure. You are early in the spring, so it’s a small sample size, but with that sample size, those guys have been consistent every single day. They have made plays every single day. The best part about those two are they are coachable. They are going to work on it and get it fixed. You tell it to them, you work it, and they get it fixed. We definitely hit on those two.”
Any early thoughts on DJ Reed and Bobby Travis and whether they can make big strides this spring?
“DJ, super proud of him. He had a ton of off-the-field issues and he had some deals with it translated onto the field. Watching him turn his life a complete 360, he’s doing better in the classroom, he’s also doing better on the field. He’s done a great job so far. We still have to fix some technique things, but he’s doing well. And Bobby, his body has changed, he’s lingering with some injuries, but we’re hoping we can get him to become a better player.”
