Joe Gaiter: What does football mean to you?
Sha’haun Williams: Football means the world to me. Without football there’s no telling where I would be or even if I’d be alive. Being from Youngstown, Ohio it’s easy to fall into the trap which is drugs, gangs,and all the violence that goes on for us back home. It’s just the reality we must face when we wake up every day, and by playing football it kept me out of everything as much as possible. This game has given me so much throughout my life. Most of my greatest memories are from football. To this day my favorite memory in football was winning back to back championships in little league because my dad was my coach ad I did it with my best friends. I’ve been blessed to have Lifelong friendships, make a name for myself in my city back home in Youngstown, Ohio and a way out to receive a college degree.
Joe Gaiter: How does it feel to be named All American?
Sha’haun Williams: It feels great to name an All American.I’ve put in a lot of work in behind closed doors that everyone doesn’t see, so to be recognized as one of the best in the country was great. It was a goal I set for myself back in April of this year. Achieve that feels amazing.
Joe Gaiter: Growing up you were awarded All State and MVP(s) honors. Who helped you shape your talent at an early age?
Sha’haun Williams: In high school, I sat out my freshman year due to injury so I was only able to play 3 seasons. In those 3 seasons I earned All-State honors every year. I was named defensive player of the year for the first 2 seasons and team MVP my senior year. I also won the “5 Blocks of Granite” award my senior year. This award was awarded to the top 5 Defensive& Offensive linemen in the Tri-state area. My father was the person who helped shape my talents at a young age. He saw how interested I was in football. He helped me with drills, workouts, and just staying hard on me to help me become great.
Joe Gaiter: Congratulations on your championship year. What did it take from you and your team to reach the very top?
Sha’haun Williams: Personally, I knew coming into this season that I had to be a leader through my play and vocally at times. I had to step up and make big plays to put my team in the best position possible to win games. As a team, we knew if we stayed together as a family, came to practice every day with the mindset of getting better, and went out and did our job with incredible effort that we would be fine.
Joe Gaiter: What were your stats this year?
Sha’haun Williams: 24.5 Tackles for loss, 20 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, 2 recovered fumbles, 2 Pass break ups, 5 QB hits & 68 tackles .
Joe Gaiter: Do you feel that NDC has been under rated this year?
Sha’haun Williams: I feel like our team was under rated all year long. We were unranked at the beginning of the season and picked to finished 3rd in our conference. After winning the conference we were underdogs all playoffs even though we were the #1 seed in our region. We felt like we were the underdogs all year. The great thing about our team is that we used that as motivation and will continue to use it as motivation.
Joe Gaiter: Why did you leave NDC in 2016 and what brought you back?
Sha’haun Williams: In 2016 I was injured early in the season which led me to missing the rest of the year. A lot of issues off the field were going on back home with my family. With the depression of being out of football due to injury and the stress of what was going on back home, I just wasn’t happy or in the right frame of mind. So, I decided to go back home and help with everything that was going on. I wanted to continue my education and football while helping, so I enrolled at YSU. During that year while I was gone, I was following all my friends that still played back here at NDC. I enjoyed my time at YSU but after I was able to offer stability to things that was going on back home, I wanted to finish what I started with NDC. I wanted to come back and do something that was never done here at NDC which was win a conference championship & national championship to put this program on the map.
Joe Gaiter: How do train to stay in tip top shape?
Sha’haun Williams: I’m always looking to get the upper edge over my competition to stay in the best shape as possible. I’ve always had the mindset of I won’t be out worked on and off the field by no one. Back home my trainer Chad Nasci with Nashdog Barbell does an incredible job. I’ve been training with Chad for years. We talk about my goals for the season and he gets me into the best shape as possible. But it doesn’t stop there I take care of my body a lot by stretching, sleeping well, and my diet. If you want to be successful you can’t just show up on Saturdays and think everything will fall into place. It’s a lifestyle you must live and be a 110% committed to it then the results will come.
Joe Gaiter: What inspires you?
Sha’haun Williams: My mom gets up and goes to work every morning. That’s it. I must go hard until I can give her everything she deserves. My family is my biggest motivation. The thought of me taking care of my Mother, my father and my brother one day is what drives me in everything I do.
Joe Gaiter: What is your football IQ and how have you used it this year to dominate on the field?
Sha’haun Williams: I have a very high football IQ which allows me to always end up wherever the ball is on the field. Watching film and breaking down offenses helps me out a lot. The game is just a lot slower on Saturdays when you prepare for it. I think having a great football IQ helps the guys around me on defense to also be successful and make their jobs easier. I’m a team player so if I’m helping other guys be successful that’s a great feeling that I love.
Joe Gaiter: What can we expect from you next year?
Sha’haun Williams: A national championship is my goal and that’s what I expect so that’s what I’m putting in the work for as well as my teammates we weren’t satisfied at the end of the year because we know how special we can be. So, with that chip on our shoulders were going to put in work all off season and be back next year.
Joe Gaiter: What have you learned from this year’s senior class?
Sha’haun Williams: I learned a lot from this senior class.It’s kind of weird because I came in 2014 with this most of class but to see them develop into the leaders, they become was amazing. Some of those guys were redshirts and put in the grind to develop into the athletes and people they were today. They taught me that in life or sports if it’s not your time then put in the work and stay ready so when your number is called, you’ll be ready. This class will be remembered forever.
Joe Gaiter: Have you reached your athletic peak?
Sha’haun Williams: Not at all, there’s always room for improvement. I didn’t have a perfect year at all, so I’ll go back and watch the tape and see the things I need to work on.
Joe Gaiter: Do you have any regrets over your football career?
Sha’haun Williams: I have no regrets on the field everything happens for a reason.
Joe Gaiter: How important is family to you?
Sha’haun Williams: As I mentioned earlier my family is everything to me. Not just my mom my dad and brother either. I’m blessed to have the Grandparents I do because without them I wouldn’t even be here. I have cousins, nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles all looking up to me while supporting me.
Joe Gaiter: Final Words?
Sha’haun Williams: I’d like to just shout out all the love and support I get back home, I look at the whole city as my family and with all of you guys behind me. WE can’t lose!
To everyone in Cleveland & the student body and fans at NDC thank you for all the support this past year and I promise 2019 be even more special
And a special thank you to my father that helped me with everything because every decision I ever made you were there to support it,even when everyone told me not to leave NDC in 2016 to come home and even when everyone told me not to leave YSU and even talked some sense into me a year ago when I almost gave up on football completely before coming back to NDC Thank you this only the beginning.
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