Edinboro University Athletics

The return of Anfreenee Williams: a Boro football story

Football / 11/20/2020 10:57:00 AM

To say that Anfreenee Williams was born to be an athlete may just be an understatement. Williams is a running back for the Fighting Scots, and his name may sound familiar to loyal Edinboro football fans. Williams, now 24, is back with the Fighting Scots after around four years away from college football and Edinboro University.
 
Williams made his return to the football program early in 2019. He has not been able to work out alongside his teammates, but it has not stopped the Camilla, Georgia native from staying in shape and fighting to reach his dream of playing professional football.
 
Williams was a highly touted recruit coming out of Mitchell County High School, but it was not always football that was a clear-cut favorite.
 

"I actually played a lot of basketball growing up," said Williams.

"The football coaches saw me running track, and they actually told me the speed I had could benefit our football team."

 
The decision to become a football player is one that changed the course of his life for the better and led to various accolades along the way. As a high school senior, he rushed for 1,299 yards and 16 touchdowns. He earned first team all-region and second team All-Metro honors at running back, along with first team all-region as a kickoff and punt returner. He was also named the Impact Player of the Year for his high school team for helping them go 6-5 that season.
 
Williams was scouted by ACC and SEC programs, but his loyalty to Edinboro began when Edinboro coaches arrived in Georgia to watch his track and field meets, something other programs did not take the time to do.
 
While Williams was excited to come to Edinboro, he mentioned some nervousness leaving Georgia for the first time.
 

"I was really scared to leave home," Williams said.

"When I got to Edinboro, that feeling went away because of how welcoming everyone at Edinboro was. The coaches and community were very welcoming to me."
 

After an 11-game season in 2014 in which he rushed for 678 yards and four touchdowns, he was named a USA College Football Division II Freshman All-American. He was also a preseason All-American heading into the 2015 season, but Williams suffered an injury in the spring of 2015.
 
His sophomore season was one that never happened unfortunately for Williams, listing personal matters as a reason he did not get back to Western, Pennsylvania for the 2015-16 school year. Despite this change in his path, the former Mitchell County standout never gave up on his football dreams.
 
While taking classes at Albany Technical College, he was playing semi-professional football across the state of Georgia and starting a family. Williams is the father of a two-year-old girl named Alaysia.

"I do not want to give up on my football dream because I want to give her the best life I possibly can."

 
Possibly the craziest thing about him playing professional football was the fact that he was traveling three hours to play home games for a team out of Atlanta. He also was working out alongside his younger brother Javoris Williams who was a standout running back at Pelham High School. He also has worked out with Indianapolis Colts nose tackle Grover Stewart, a close friend of his to help keep in playing and prime shape for when football returns for the Fighting Scots.
 
During his time away from the program, the coaching staff has changed for Edinboro football. Despite this, Williams is excited about the environment and culture Jake Nulph and his staff is bringing to Edinboro. The Fighting Scots tailback has also been glad to see some photos and posters of him still hanging around McComb Fieldhouse.
 
He doesn't have to think long when asked about the reason for his focus and tenacity.

"the vision of my dream, my daughter, and wanting to be the best person and athlete that I can be."

 
The former preseason All-American has two years of college eligibility remaining which will be key in helping him achieve his dream of playing professional football.

"Playing in Canada, the NFL, or KFL would all be great opportunities. I have a connection with Mike Miller who has coached here. He coached in the XFL earlier this year."

 
His distant cousin is NBA and basketball legend George Gervin whom he sees a few times a year at family gatherings. Though Williams is a Georgia native, he chooses to root on LeBron James instead of the Atlanta Hawks who reside in his home state.
 
This former basketball-obsessed youngster has completely transformed to a feared running back for the Fighting Scots. Through adversity and changes in his life, his love for football never wavered. His goal of playing professional football remains intact, and the hope of providing his daughter a great life is in sight.
 
Through it all, the rock in his life has been his mother Tiffany Thomas.

"She stood beside me during the lowest of times and kept me focused on working out and trying to chase my dream. She has always been by my side through everything."

 
Williams, now 24, will certainly be one of the older players in the Fighting Scots locker room, and in any football locker room in America. Regardless of this, the work he has put in to get back to this point is remarkable. Nothing has stood in his way from a return to college football, and he is sure to make the most out of what lies ahead in his football career.