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| | | (JASON WRIGHT/www.northfulton.com)
Rising Milton senior Toney Williams will graduate early in 2008 so he can take in spring practices at the University of Tennessee. (click for larger version) | |
June 09, 2008
www.northfulton.com
MILTON — Ah, summer... time to kick back and relax, maybe hang out by the pool. That is, of course, unless you're Milton High School football standout Toney Williams.
The 6-foot, 230-pound running back's summer is spent in daily speed and weight training practices, followed by two pre-calculus classes and a literature course online – all so he can follow his dream of playing Division 1 football for the University of Tennessee.
"I can't wait, I'm so excited," said Williams after practice on a scorching June afternoon.
A Chattanooga native, Williams has verbally agreed to play for the SEC powerhouse after getting attention from a host of top schools, including Georgia Tech and Rutgers. But he can't actually sign with the Vols until the first Wednesday of February 2009, at which time he'll actually have been a student for almost a month.
That's right, Williams is graduating from Milton early so he can go to the school in January and get acclimated to the Volunteers' program in spring practice. It was a decision he made last month.
"When the Tennessee offer came, it was a done deal," he said. "I'm going back home. I feel like I'm playing for my home city."
Milton head coach Scott Walker said Williams' early offer and acceptance couldn't have happened to a harder working, better player.
"I couldn't be any happier for any one person than for him to be where he's at," he said. "He's a great person, fun to be around – there are so many guys who have this notoriety and hype, but Toney's humble."
Walker said Williams' offers came not because of "gaudy" numbers, but because of his completeness as a player.
"There are so many guys who are one-dimensional," he said. "He's so far along and doing it all."
And part of that complete package is Williams' schoolwork.
"I'm probably more proud of his accomplishments academically than athletically," said Walker. "It doesn't come easy, but he's making all As and Bs. Graduating early, that's a big commitment on his part to get it done."
But it's a commitment he's willing to make to secure a big time future. While at Tennessee, Williams is looking to major in broadcast journalism, specifically sports.
"I know there's more to life than football," he said. "Without an education, I'm not going to make it. And my football skills can open a lot of doors academically – I'm going to take it."
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