The Makings Of A Winner
November 02, 2022 | Football, Joel Coleman
Austin Williams keeps on amazing with his consistent work ethic.
STARKVILLE – What does it take to make a winner? When you're looking for characteristics that foretell one's future success, what traits stand out?
If you ever struggle to come up with answers to those questions, don't fret. Just point at a picture of Mississippi State receiver Austin Williams.
He's cool. He's calm. He's collected. He's driven. And he's that way, quite literally, all the time. Just ask his quarterback, who also happens to double as his roommate.
"He's just the same guy every single day," Will Rogers said of Williams. "It doesn't matter what it is. We could be at football practice or doing something at the house and he's the same guy every day. He's consistent in what he does. He's a guy that truly stacks days on top of each other. I think his goal is just to get better at something every day and I think he does a pretty good job of that."
Williams' results speak for themselves. On the field, he's caught the second-most touchdown passes on the team this season with four. No surprise there as Williams has been a productive Bulldog for the last half decade as he's played in an MSU record 58 career games – a total that currently stands 21st in the country among active FBS athletes.
But Williams shines away from the gridiron, too. Last week, he was chosen as a finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy. The award is college football's premier scholar-athlete award that annually recognizes an individual as the absolute best in the nation for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership. Williams is the only finalist who has posted a 4.0 GPA every year of his college career.
And this is a young man that has gotten quite the education. He's currently working on his third Mississippi State degree. Williams already has a bachelor's in finance and a master's in business administration. He's now nearing a master's in workforce education leadership.
"[His degrees] aren't in basket weaving…They're hard majors," MSU head coach Mike Leach said. "They're the ones where you say, 'If I major in this, I'll make a lot of money.' But it also runs through your mind what classes you'd have to take, and you consider avoiding them, too.
"[Williams is] smarter than other people. He works harder than other people. And for a smart guy, some smart people overcomplicate things. He doesn't. He sees the clear path and isn't one to get cluttered up in all the details."
Because of his hard work and approach to life, the honors have poured in for Williams the last two years. Earlier this week, Williams was tabbed a semifinalist for the Wuerffel Trophy for the second straight year. It's an honor that is college football's premier award for community service that honors college football players who serve others and inspire greater service in the world.
Williams is also a two-time First Team CoSIDA Academic All-American. He was the 2021-22 SEC H. Boyd McWhorter Scholar-Athlete of the Year – the highest honor an SEC athlete can earn.
And every bit of this is a credit to Williams and his focus and commitment to be the best in all he does.
"[His demeanor] is extremely unique, especially at our age," Rogers said. "With college and everything else going on living in a college town and just being in school and things like that, for him to be as consistent as he is, it says a lot about him."
Ask anyone to sum up Williams and there is no word that comes up more than consistent. Day after day after day, Williams pushes himself to be the best, wherever he's at.
"There's not a day that passes that he's not out catching extra passes or in the weight room getting in extra reps and things," linebacker Nathaniel Watson said of Williams. "He's just a consistent guy."
Here's the thing about that consistency. As much of a benefit as it is to Williams, it's also shaping the Bulldogs who have the chance to spend time with the veteran wideout. If State is fortunate, Williams' efforts will help shape MSU youngsters, continuing Williams' impact for years to come.
"Just having him on the team as a leader with his consistency and having others follow behind him, it means a lot," Watson said.