Clemson commitment wavered but says he is

by David Hood - Senior Writer - Thu Nov 04 11:04:28 GMT-04:00 2010

CLEMSON – DeShawn Williams sees a lot of parallels between his current team, the Daniel Lions, and the Clemson Tigers, the team he will play for next season.

Daniel started out the season with two consecutive losses, and many thought that the Lions would not be able to make the playoffs or a return to the AAA State Championship Game.

However, the Lions won six out of their last eight games, and travel to Clinton in the first round of the AAA playoffs this Friday night. Williams said he thinks the Tigers can make a similar rebound.

“A lot of people didn’t think this team could make it to the playoffs,” Williams told TigerNet Wednesday evening. “Right now, we are just trying to shut up all of the haters who said we would not be any good after we lost some good players, like DeAndre Hopkins. And now, we are about to make a run in the playoffs.

“Clemson is kind of a shocker to me and a lot of people. They had a lot of good people coming back from last year. I wouldn’t have thought that this would happen. But Coach Dabo [Swinney] and the coaches down there will get something together and change it. I think they have a chance to make a run here at the end of the season.”

Williams is just shy of 100 tackles for the season, and he has 16 tackles for loss and eight sacks.

He said that Clemson’s struggles did cast a little doubt on his decision, but he feels he is once again in the right frame of mind.

“I am still fully committed to Clemson,” he said. “I did have my doubts, and I did second-guess myself. But my mom and my coaches told me to stick it out, and be “All In” like Dabo. I am not frustrated anymore. As long as they beat South Carolina, I am fine.”

Williams said he will be in attendance when the Tigers and Gamecocks meet at the end of this month, and he can’t wait to experience his first Clemson-Carolina game.

“That game is very important, and if you are from around here, you grow into it,” he said. “All you hear is Clemson-South Carolina. Whoever wins gets bragging rights. I know there is a lot of tradition. This will be my first time to get to watch it, and I’m going to be like a kid in a candy store. I am going to take it all in.”

Before all that happens, though, he wants to make sure the Daniel Lions get all his attention and effort.

“I am very happy I could help lead my team to the playoffs,” he said. “I am kind of sad we didn’t win the region, but we are in the playoffs. I want to lead my team to a championship this year.”