Standing 6’3, at a weight of 232 pounds, linebacker Willie Williams may not be a household name, but he should be. He’s a star. Maybe not a football star, but a star nonetheless. Recently, Williams, under scholarship at the University of Miami, requested a transfer from the school that looked past his rap sheet, which included ten arrests as a minor and a parole violation charge just DAYS AFTER HE SIGNED! If the Hurricanes do indeed give him a release, it will end an era of perhaps the greatest college athlete, in terms of charisma, ever.  The following are recruiting trip and interview excerpts of that ‘risma from the man known as “Da Predator” to his fans and ‘The Weasel” to his detractors. If nothing else, we know Willie likes to eat good. The Wheel salutes you, Williams.

From Miami Herald Report Manny Navarro’s ongoing tracking of Willie’s recruiting trips:

Florida State University
''When Coach Bowden picked me up, he had a box of chicken wings for me... there was only like two wings. I told him `Coach, we're still going to dinner right?”

``Coach Haggins told us to order as much as we wanted. I ordered a steak and a lobster tail. The lobster tail was like $49.99. I couldn't believe something so little could cost so much. The steak didn't even have a price.”

“But, then I saw what the other guys were ordering, I was like, `Forget this.' I called the waiter back and told him to bring me four lobster tails, two steaks and a Shrimp Scampi. It was good. I took two boxes back with me to the hotel.''

''Coach Bowden was cool, but Ms. Bowden was the bomb.  I swear, she must be related to Betty Crocker or something. When we walked into that house, it was like walking into a Publix Bakery -- banana pudding, chocolate cake, cheesecake. I had one of everything. I didn't want to leave.''

Auburn
''I really wanted to go to Red Lobster for some more lobster and steak (per the FSU visit, no doubt), but they told me the wait was two hours. So I got me some baby back ribs, buffalo wings and shrimp. Even though I ordered first, somehow, I was still the last one to get my food.”

''You know how it is, those girls are supposed to be there to cheer you up. But I told them, `I ain't no animal, and I ain't going to eat no plant. I'm from Miami. I don't eat that. You farm people are used to it, but not me.'' (After several female hosts, nicknamed the ‘Tigerettes,’ offered him some of their spinach dip)

''One guy decided it was enough for him to commit. They tried to get me to join him. The girls were shouting, `We want you Willie. We want you.' I couldn't do it. So I just waved good-bye and got on the bus.''

Miami
“When I saw Coach Coker was driving the Escalade, I was like, `Dang, coach got some taste.' ''

''We'd get to a red light and I would hold on because the bus driver would just take it. Coach Coker was like, `Willie, we've got police escorts.' I told him, 'Thank God. I thought the police were trying to pull us over and give us a ticket.'”

''I was running like a blind man. I had my eyes closed cause I didn't want none of that smoke to get in my eyes. Coach was like, `It's OK, Willie. It isn't going to hurt you.' Now, I know."  (Running out of a tunnel through a giant-sized UM helmet and the infamous smoke)

''J.R. and I figured we would stuff the Miami Hurricane jerseys under our clothes. Bobby hid his in his stomach, but he looked pregnant.''

Florida
''I ate so many meatballs, the people there started looking like meatballs. Some guy kept trying to get me to eat these alligator tails, but I wasn't having it. I told him `I'm not the Crocodile Hunter.' I don't touch reptiles.''

''There was Gatorade all over the place.'' I was like `I get it. Gatorade was made at Florida.' ''


''The first night I was OK with eating at the stadium. But when they told me we’re going to eat there again, I was a little disappointed. I was like, `Take us to Red Lobster or something.'

``That's when I pretty much made up my mind. I can't live in a place that don't have any restaurants. What am I going to do -- fly home to eat shrimp?''
 
From a 2004 interview with Canesport.com

Q: What are we going to see (on the field)?

Williams: Man, I'm planning on doing a lot of action.  

From Fox Sports Net 2004 feature, “Countdown to Signing Day”
“Yeah, I’d have to give the plug to State. You know, their food was just amazing – you know, they wined us and dined us with lobster, shrimp, strawberry daiquiri. You know, it was great, but you know they had some great food, but I have to give the plug to Florida State, they had the biggest steaks.” (laughter)

On the recruiting trip to Florida in 2004
 "I've never seen him act like that," said Akeem Robinson, an offensive lineman who played with Williams last season at Miami-Carol City and shared a room with him during their official visit to Florida Jan. 30-Feb. 1. "I was very surprised. I asked him, 'What the heck is wrong with you?' "
 
The 6-foot-2, 225-pound linebacker allegedly "grabbed/hugged" a female UF student against her will at 11 p.m. Jan. 30, engaged in a fight at a local nightclub at around 2:30 a.m. Jan. 31 and discharged fire extinguishers about 90 minutes later at local hotel where UF was housing recruits, according to police reports.

Omar Kelly, South Florida Sun Sentinel reporter on July 6, 2006
(Describing a call to Williams checking in on his summer, he gets the answering machine)
“After a few seconds of listening to Spanish television [next time try not to use a Toyota commercial from Telemundo, Willie], Da Predator comes on and says in his best Hispanic accent: ‘Eh, Eh, Eh, right now I in Cuba, right now. You call me later and I get back to you as soon as possible. Soon as possible. What you say Jesus (prounounced Hay-soos)?"