Pirate Update: Bryce Williams - Faith, Football & Fortitude

Bryce Williams cleaned out his locker in Bank of America Stadium, loaded his GMC Sierra pickup truck and made the 79-mile drive northeast to his hometown of Winston-Salem, just 10 days before the Carolina Panthers kicked off the 2017 NFL season.

The former East Carolina tight end had just been released by a fourth NFL team in less than two calendar years.

Like the three times before this, one of Williams' first phone calls was to his childhood best friend, Corey Reich, who doubles as his personal trainer. Reich has a rich background in fitness and now owns his own gym, on the same street where he grew up just a few houses down from Williams.

"He always has such a positive mindset," Reich said. "It's no surprise he wanted to meet at the gym first thing the next morning and immediately get back to work. That's honestly just who Bryce is."

This routine has become the norm for Williams, who caught the eyes of NFL scouts after a prolific three-year run in the Pirates' high-powered offense from 2013 to 2015. He closed out his time in Greenville with 96 receptions for 1,045 yards and 13 touchdowns playing for coach Ruffin McNeill.

Game after game, in the biggest moments, the 6-foot-6 athletic tight end used his size and athleticism to haul in tough passes against some of the top defenders in the nation. He dazzled the raucous crowds at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, but like thousands of former collegiate stars, the transition to the next level hasn't gone as planned.

While it sounds cliché, the "overly humble country boy" as his friends describe him, truly finds the light in times where others get lost in the dark. Faith has always been a staple in his life. He's confident every moment to this point has helped prepare him for the future.

The hour-and-a-half drive back home was easier than the sudden cross-country flights that accompanied his first three setbacks - or as Williams likes to call them - learning experiences.

"I had to constantly remind myself and say 'Bryce, this isn't up to you,' and remember I'm not running the show," Williams said. "So each time I faced a setback, I prayed and trusted in God's plan. I know I can compete at the highest level, so it's just about waiting for the right opportunity. It will come."

This time felt different.

The Carolina Panthers were the same team he rooted for as a child and now he had a chance to suit up in the team's signature black and blue, just a short commute away from his family and friends.

The sudden moves, from Foxboro to Los Angeles to Seattle and then back to North Carolina, felt like a distant memory. He honed in on the positives, learning directly from Rob Gronkowski with the Patriots and observing Tom Brady - one of the greatest players of all time - to get unprecedented insight on how to thrive as a pro.

He made a significant jump with the Rams where he spent the entire 2016 season on Jeff Fisher's practice squad, but just when he thought he stood a chance, Fisher was replaced by Sean McVay. Williams wasn't in the plans. He signed with the Seahawks and caught passes from Russell Wilson and even had a tryout with the Steelers.

Still, he felt ready to fulfill a childhood dream by playing in Charlotte.

Surely the Panthers had a plan for the hometown kid. The local newspapers were writing about the move. Williams' family and friends were thrilled about the prospect. He felt stronger, smarter and more equipped than ever to hit the ground running and earn a roster spot for the season.

The Panthers' decision makers had a different plan in mind, just another reminder of the cutthroat nature of trying to make it on to a NFL roster.

"I remember him calling me after those first few days of practices," Reich said. "He said 'Corey, I'm working my butt off down here, harder than I ever have.' He was studying the playbook, getting play scripts the day before practice and making sure to go the extra mile. He felt like no matter how hard he tried, he wasn't getting anywhere. Unfortunately, from day one, it was apparent the Panthers' just brought Bryce in for an extra body. They were never going to keep him no matter what he did or how well he performed. It was really tough."

After yet another letdown, Williams didn't sulk or feel sorry for himself as he navigated down those all-to-familiar Carolina roads home, eager to see his parents and pumped about eating his Mom's famous meatloaf for supper.

For the first time since high school, Williams wouldn't have a team to call his own for the 2017 campaign. He would catch games on TV from time to time, but used that year to push himself harder than he ever had, with Reich by his side nearly every day, just like they were kids again.

There were tough times of course, followed up by fishing outings and hunting excursions that put it all in perspective. Williams was in a great place mentally, but still wasn't going to give up.

"I've known Bryce my whole life and he worked harder that year than I've ever seen him work," Reich said. "He was a monster in the weight room, constantly asking me how to improve his speed, agility, blocking, all of it. He knew he was good enough to play in the NFL."

Almost exactly one year ago, as NFL squads shuffled through free agency and began making offseason moves, the gritty N.C. native received a call that would send him west again, to sign with the Arizona Cardinals.

For the third time, Williams would board a plane beaming with optimism for a fresh start, a new opportunity. Every coach in the NFL had likely seen his film by now, so the opportunities kept coming. The comfort of his home state was replaced by the blistering desert sun, but Williams was once again finding a groove, sticking around long enough to make it through training camp.

Then, like a lingering nightmare that never leaves, it happened yet again.

Williams was released from the Cardinals' on Sept. 2, 2018, a week before another new NFL season kicked off.

That marked the last time he played on a NFL roster.

Williams' agent called him last winter gauging his interest in the Alliance of American Football, a new professional league that has gained attention, with several key former NFL coaches, executives and players leading the charge. The Arizona Hotshots - coached by former NCAA and NFL coach Rick Neuheisel - loved Williams, and by all accounts, this was exactly what he needed.

After a few months when he appeared to be the clear No. 1 tight end, a mix of bad timing and a tough injury suddenly made Williams disposable. The Hotshots were in desperate need of help on their offensive line and chose to cut Williams to make room.

He was stunned. This one hit harder than all the NFL letdowns that came before it.

"I felt confident I was one of the top tight ends on the roster, " Williams said. "They said they would bring me back, this is temporary and I'm going to take them at their word, but as always, it's in God's hands."

While he continues to believe a football career may be possible in the days ahead, Williams is enjoying life like any 20-something planning their future.

It's not uncommon to see his signature smile in a hilarious video on Snapchat and he's been helping Reich coach younger kids in his spare time. He hangs out with his friends and never misses church in Winston-Salem, a place that doubles as his own little paradise. He's at peace, genuinely, and reiterates this isn't a story about failure or loss.

It's about picking yourself up, time and time again and clinging to something to truly believe in.

By now, Williams has had to consider the possibility of hanging up the cleats — but whether he's playing on Sundays or pursuing something new — his attitude will never waver.

"I'm genuinely happy with my life," Williams said smiling. "If football is over, I know God's got it. Shoot, I've considered doing a lot of things. I'd love to start coaching at the high school level, maybe eventually move up to college. I've explored non-football stuff as well, but I will continue to train and trust the big man upstairs. It's all in his hands."

- Sean Labar

Pirate Update: Bryce Williams - Faith, Football & Fortitude

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