Ole Miss LT Jayden Williams thrives on the competition within the offensive room

Ole Miss junior offensive tackle Jayden Williams protected the blind side of quarterback Jaxson Dart in 2022 for nearly 1,000 snaps at left tackle as a redshirt freshman, but a shoulder injury that required offseason surgery cost him the following spring training.

While he was out, Washington transfer Victor Curne, older and more experienced, took Williams’ starting position for 2023.

“I went from playing nearly every snap to around 40 percent of the snaps, but I was able to stay sharp and I still graded well,” said Williams, who had a team-leading 73.6 pass pro rating in 2022.

This past spring, Williams was back at number one at left tackle, but North Carolina transfer Diego Pounds, who was injured during spring, is expected to compete for the top spot when August practice rolls around.

“Competition brings out the best in everyone,” Williams said. “I know it brings out the best in me. I love to compete and may the best man win.

“I don’t know what the coaches are going to do in this situation. We have a lot of really good players on the offensive line and we all have the mindset of we are going to win a position. It’s going to make all of us better football players. When we go to practice or even when we are studying film in the offensive line room, we have to approach everything with the right mindset, a mindset that we are here to compete and win.”

Ole Miss offensive line coach John Garrison will have his hands full sorting it all out with so many players that seem to have similar talents.

“I think he’s going to put the best five on the field and then go from there,” Williams noted, a 6-foot-5, 300-pounder from Conway, Arkansas. “I don’t have any indication of his plans for whoever is not in the top five. I don’t know if he is going to platoon us or sub individually or what.

“All I know is that I will be eager to compete for the top spot at left tackle and I’m sure Diego or whoever is out there with me will be too.”

Williams does believe, however, there will be enough reps to go around for everyone who is good enough to earn playing time.

“I got good game reps last season behind Victor so I’m sure there will be reps enough to go around as deep and good as we are,” he added.

Jayden and the Ole Miss offensive line went against the revamped defensive line in spring and Williams is very complimentary of them.

“I think they are very good. I think (defensive tackle) Walter Nolen is the best college player I have seen since I have been in college,” Williams noted. “With J.J. (Pegues) and Jared (Ivey) and Zxavian (Harris) and the others, we should be very good on the DL.”

Williams says the expectations around the program are something the team is embracing.

“We are a confident team. We expect to be good. Our goals are high. We can’t wait to get started,” he closed.

The post Ole Miss LT Jayden Williams thrives on the competition within the offensive room appeared first on On3.