NASHVILLE – James Williams was a five-star prospect and ranked as the No.1 safety in the country back in high school.
When he thinks back to those days, he remembers flying around the football field.
Fast-forward to today, and the Titans linebacker said he feels like a teenager again at the start of his third NFL season.
He's flying around, as fast as he's been since those days back in south Florida.
Part of the reason: He's back at 230 pounds, not far from his playing weight back then.
"I feel like myself again," a smiling Williams said on Tuesday. "I feel back to myself in high school – I am elusive, and I can move around however I want to. I feel great."
This offseason, Williams has looked great, too.
Through five training camp practices, Williams has two interceptions, and he's gotten his hands on plenty of footballs. Willams was also around the football throughout OTAs and the team's minicamp.
Williams – and his coaches – attribute the success to the work he put in during the offseason, when he went from 250 pounds to 230 pounds to adjust to a 4-3 defensive scheme, and new approach, under head coach Robert Saleh and defensive coordinator Gus Bradley.
"First off, James coming out of Miami, he was a safety. So, anyone in our system, whether it was us, Houston, San Francisco, all liked him coming out as a guy who could project to a linebacker," Saleh said. "He's so long and he's so big and he's got good speed and he's done a really nice job. First thing he's done is he's done a nice job this offseason, getting himself in the physical shape that we need him to be in. He looks good so far."
Bradley said Williams also has a good understanding of the defense, which is allowing him to play faster.
"I am especially excited about him," Bradley said of Williams. "He's changed his body type. … We like those guys who have played safety in their career, and move them down to linebacker. We feel like we can get them to use their hands and punch and get off blocks, and the pass coverage part of it, that safety background that he has, I think it allows him to be a little bit more instinctive."
A seventh-round pick of the Titans in the 2024 NFL Draft, Williams transitioned from safety to linebacker in the NFL, and he had to beef up his body in a 3-4 defensive scheme.
Williams played 29 games over the past two seasons, on defense, and on special teams.
But Williams admitted playing at 250 pounds slowed him down. So, when coaches recommended he lose weight to play in the new scheme, suggesting 235-239 pounds might be a good range for him, Williams improved his diet with a meal plan, and he worked on his body under the direction of the team's strength and conditioning program.
Williams instead landed on 230 pounds as a comfortable weight, and he's wearing it well.
As he competes for playing time on defense and for work on special teams, Williams wants to prove he's capable of taking his game to the next level, at a lighter weight.
In his mind, he was built for this.
"My thought process was fast and violent," Williams said of his mindset heading into camp. "I was preparing myself to have a great camp, and to play as fast as I can and as violent as I can.
"I love the defense. It allows us to play fast and violent – if you are going to make mistakes, make them going fast… I just want to continue to play fast and violent – that's what they preach and that's my mindset."
