SPRINGDALE — As he stood off to the side Thursday night watching sportswriters interview his son, former Arkansas All-Southwest Conference linebacker Rickey Williams had a big smile on his face.
His son, Zach Williams (6-4, 225 pounds), a four-star pledge for the Razorbacks, had just finished up his season opener with Class 4A Joe T. Robinson, a 48-28 loss at Class 7A Springdale.
Williams had six tackles, a sack, another tackle for lost yardage and a fumble recovery that led to the game’s first score.
“I am very excited,” said Rickey Williams, who played for Arkansas from 1984-87 and is the program’s eighth-leading career tackler with 343. “When you see you son accomplish such great things, it makes you proud as a dad. He fought hard tonight, but its tough trying to fend off two to three blockers.
“I’m excited about moving forward because sometimes losing is good for the soul. I would rather for them to lose now than to lose in December (in the state playoffs).”
Zach Williams announced on July 5 that he had chosen Arkansas over Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Oregon, Texas, Louisville, TCU, Oregon State and Vanderbilt, among others.
That delighted Rickey, even though he was allowing Zach to make his own decision.
“I was jumping out of my shoes,” Rickey Williams said. “I think he is going to be far grater and than I ever was. He is going to make his own name as a Razorback and someday he will have his own legacy. I was real happy - elated, in fact.”
Joe T. Robinson finished 13-1 last season with a 35-28 loss to Warren in overtime in the state semifinals.
There are 15 returning starters from that squad. The Senators are expected to contend for a second straight conference title and push deep into the playoffs again.
"Are we as good?" Zach said. "People say that. I think we only lost two major guys. We just need to focus on technique. That's what we're lacking when we get tired."
Springdale, which was bolstered by the transfer of six starters from Springdale Har-Ber, came out with some different looks than than Robinson had seen on film last season.
"It was different they did things we didn't even practice on," Williams said. "I guess it was kind of hard for me. They said they were trying to neutralize me. They ran different plays. They succeeded on some plays and some they didn't. I'm just gonna continue to get better and focus on the Rogers game (next week).”
Springdale coach Zak Clark, a former Arkansas quarterback, is certain Williams is a D-I talent.
“He is really good,” Clark said. “He recovered that fumble in the first quarter just by using his explosiveness off the edge. Our game plan was that we were going to check it away from him. We had a lot of success in the second half running the ball, but it wasn’t at him.”
Clark thought Williams stood out more in person more than he did on film.
“He’s a lot more explosive than I thought he was on film,” Clark said. “Really good player. He’s an SEC player, no question. He is really explosive. I was shocked.”
Williams had 65 tackles, 28 tackles for lost yardage and 11 sacks last season, and was excited to make the big play early Thursday night.
"It felt good," Zach Williams said. "I guess it turned our energy around since we came out kinda rocky."
He realizes he is not a finished product.
"I'm working on reading blocks more. You know tackle is gonna hold regardless so I'm going to focus on just using a fast punch to get them off of me."
While Williams is not a vocal leader, he tries to lead by example.
"I'm more of a quiet leader," Williams said. "I do what I'm supposed to do. I guess they look up to me and I kinda feel disappointed we lost.”
Life got a lot less complicated for Williams when he made his decision.
”It has been a lot more easy," Williams said. "It has been a lot more normal life now. When recruiting was still on there would be five different people hit you up 24/7 after school. It was tiring. As soon as I committed I started chilling out and I feel good about it."
He is looking forward to Arkansas’ season opener against Eastern Illinois on Sept. 1.
"I'm very excited," Williams said. "I'm gonna be watching every single play, every single down I will be watching."
He is one of seven defensive ends or tackles that are committed to the Razorbacks in the 2019 recruiting class, which is ranked 16th nationally by Rivals.
"Yes sir, we are pretty big in the front line," Williams said. "We're pretty big and aggressive. I feel we're gonna go far."
Williams has a great relationship with his future college coaches.
"They are pretty cool so I think they will go pretty far when the season starts," Williams said. "I like them a lot."
Joe T. Robinson has several other Division I prospects, including senior offensive lineman Elliott Harris, Jr. (6-4, 320) and ninth grade offensive lineman E’Marion Harris (6-5, 298), who played in his first high school game Thursday at age 13.
They are the sons of former Razorback defensive end Elliott Harris (2001-04).