Veteran safety Jayden Williams transferred to UCF this summer after four seasons at FAU. Now reunited with familiar coaches and teammates, Williams is eager to prove he belongs at the Power Four level.
Jayden Williams didn’t need much convincing when it came to choosing his next home.
After four seasons at Florida Atlantic, the veteran safety entered the transfer portal in the spring and soon reunited with familiar faces at UCF. Former FAU secondary coach Brandon Harris now leads the Knights’ defensive backs, and UCF’s Director of Player Personnel Jeff Love held the same role in Boca Raton. The player connections were there too. Quarterback Cam Fancher and safety Phillip Dunnam also transferred in from FAU.
“I knew this place would be home,” Williams said. “It wouldn’t be anything different from FAU. The coaches, Coach (Scott) Frost, they all made it feel like home, so it was a no-brainer.”
The redshirt senior arrived in Orlando this summer and quickly went to work. Though he didn’t have the benefit of spring practices, Williams said he leaned heavily on his veteran experience to get up to speed.
“It was a lot of learning, a lot of mental reps, a lot of standing back, looking at the other guys perform and see how they move, see the footwork,” Williams said. “This is my fifth year and it’s not new to me to learn a new playbook because of all the coaches I went through at FAU.
“I took a lot of coaching points from my teammates. The guys in the secondary really helped me out, so it wasn’t that hard.”
Williams, a native of Valrico, Fla., appeared in six games last season and served as one of FAU’s four team captains. He tallied 26 tackles and had a two-interception game against UTSA. The year prior, he played in eight games with 34 tackles and an interception.
He said his biggest strength is his fearlessness and physicality.
“I don’t think, I don’t hesitate. I go out there and shoot it. Let it hang, man,” Williams said. “I can’t wait.”
Building chemistry and defining identity
With so many newcomers on both sides of the ball, building chemistry has been a major focus during preseason camp.
“We kind of started off slow, trying to gel together as brothers,” Williams said. “I feel like the chemistry is cooking now. We’re cooking. The communication, the down calls, all that stuff, that’s probably our biggest stride.”
Defensive coordinator Alex Grinch has instilled a mindset of effort and toughness, which Williams says will be on full display next Thursday when the Knights open the season against Jacksonville State.
“We’re flying around, making plays. Definitely a lot of playmakers back there,” he said. “We’re going to show speed and physicality. That’s something that Coach Frost instilled in us, so I can’t wait.”
The coaching staff also emphasized brotherhood during summer team-building exercises with The Program.
“We know that brotherhood is what wins games. Chemistry, sticking together through adversity,” Williams said. “We can’t do it without each other, the brother to our right and the brother to our left. That was something the (Program) training really helped instill in us.”
Leading in his own way
Williams has embraced a leadership role at UCF but says he’s tried to find the right balance within a new locker room dynamic.
“At FAU, I was kind of like a big team guy, like a team leader,” he said. “But now I try to see my role and not try to overstep anybody’s other role. I do my part off the field, on the field, encourage the young guys to pick it up sometimes. I would say more of a vocal, off-the-field type of leader.”
He said forming relationships has come naturally, even with so many new players.
“Football is the best team sport,” Williams said. “The brotherhood is easy to come together in football. The biggest challenge is just getting the chemistry rocking.”
Familiar faces from FAU
Williams has especially enjoyed reuniting with fellow safety Phillip Dunnam.
“Phil Dunnam, man, great athlete. He’s one of the best that I’ve seen,” Williams said. “He likes to go make plays on the ball, and I always let him know I’ve got his back and he’s got mine. That’s not just for us, the whole room plays off each other’s skill sets.”
And of course, there’s Cam Fancher, who is expected to start at quarterback after also transferring from FAU this offseason.
“Cam is a great guy on and off the field,” Williams said. “The quarterback room is amazing, Tayven (Jackson), Jacurri (Brown), all of them are great. Whoever is out there Thursday will help us win.”
Williams said Fancher has stepped up his leadership since arriving at UCF.
“At FAU, he was kind of just feeling it out. I think here, the other guys in the quarterback room have helped him become more of a leader,” he said. “They kind of feed off each other, and it’s helped every single one of them.”
Ready to prove himself
Now heading into his fifth and final season, Williams is eager to prove he belongs at the Power Four level.
“I want to prove that I can play at this level, that it won’t be a fall-off,” he said. “It won’t be anything different for me. I’ve been competing with the best since I was a little kid. I’m not proving anybody wrong. I’m proving myself right.”
With the season opener now just days away, Williams is eager to take the field as a Knight for the first time.
“I’m excited. I’m blessed to be here,” he said. “I can’t wait to go out there and show what I can do.”
Category: General Sports
