Most USC fans remember Mike Williams as a dominating wide receiver who became a lifesaver for quarterbacks Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart during his freshman and sophomore seasons at USC. Williams was so dominant as an underclassman (2,579 and 30 TDs) that many expected the 6’5″ wideout to shatter many of the schools all-time receiving records that are held by Johnnie Morton, Dwayne Jarrett, and Kareem Kelly. However, Williams decided to leave for the NFL under the Clarrett ruling, which was eventually overturned, and he was forced to site out the entire 2004 season.
I think it’s safe to assume that a lot of partying, drinking, and especially eating occurred during that year, as Williams entered the NFL in 2005 many pounds overweight. The weight issue and his indifference towards the game of football proved to be quite frustrating for both the Detroit Lions and the Oakland Raiders. Because of this, he has been traded to the Tennessee Titans, where he will get one last shot at becoming a consistent NFL wide receiver. Fortunately for Titans fans and the USC Family, Williams is making the best of this opportunity, according to The Tennessean.
"Mike Williams lost the weight and regained his swagger in the process. He’s faster, happier and once again optimistic about a career that went nowhere in his first three NFL seasons. But for his sake, to keep him motivated, the Titans receiver is going to pretend he’s stuck in a rut. In 2005, Williams was a first-round draft pick by the Lions, but he was released after two seasons. The Raiders gave him another shot, but he lasted just six games in Oakland. That’s when the Titans jumped on board, signing him at the end of last season, hoping for bigger things in the future. Today, the 6-foot-5 Williams is down nearly 30 pounds to 242 from his weight in January. He opened eyes in practices open to media in May and June, which got the attention of his teammates. But when someone paid him a compliment on the last day of organized workouts, he had a matter-of-fact reply. Williams, more than anyone, knows he’s done nothing yet."
Hopefully, Williams can maximize the potential that he displayed at USC, and become a legitimate NFL wide receiver. Best of luck to him and the Titans.