While growing up in Miami’s Liberty City neighborhood, Marcus “Point” Williams always knew that he wanted the best out of life. Due to his humble beginnings and being the youngest of four brothers, Williams made a vow to himself to be successful and to make a difference in his family.
“It was rough growing up but it ended up getting better,” he said. “We went through financial hardships and seeing how hard everyone was working made me realize that I had to be my own boss.”
Football served as an outlet for Williams. In high school, he played wide receiver for Miami Northwestern, which had a strong reputation for being a winning team.
After graduating high school, Williams received a call from a FAMU football coach and was offered the opportunity to be a wide receiver for the Rattlers. While things were starting to get seemingly better for Williams, he was a bit underwhelmed when he arrived to Tallahassee.
“It was hard adjusting to a new place,” he said. “I had just lost one of my best friends named Deb. It was really hard for me because he was so proud that I was going off to school and playing football.”
Deb’s death along with another death of a high school friend proved to Williams that life was too short to not follow his dreams.
Now, a graduating senior majoring in sociology, Williams is preparing for the next phase of his life, which he hopes will be the NFL.
“After graduation I plan to go to an NFL camp,” said Williams. “Whether I’m in the league or coaching, football has always been my life. I’ve never envisioned myself doing anything else.”
Williams said a goal for him upon starting FAMU football, was to help rid the school of its reputation of being a “losing team.”
“I didn’t want people to be shocked that we won, I want them to be surprised that we lost,” he said.
FAMU’s football team is currently ranked No. 17 nationally, and the Rattlers remain undefeated in their conference. Williams said the success of the team is excitingly overwhelming.
“It feels good to be a winning team. At the start of the season I wasn’t cleared to play due to an injury, which caused a lot of people to treat me differently,” he said. “But I’m back in the game and look at us now.”
FAMU football coach Jelani Berassa said he always knew there was something special about Williams and predicts that he will have a promising future.
“He has a competitive and winning spirit which will help him be successful in life as he continues to grow,” Berassa said.
Williams plans to one day write a story about his life, but in the meantime his main focus is to prepare himself for the NFL camp and life after FAMU.
“My brothers and my family really motivate me and the team has become a second family, said Williams. “I owe it to my family and myself to make my dreams come true.”