by By Dan Ninham (Oneida)
Moses Williams is a 6-0, 290 lb. senior offensive lineman and wears #62 on game day for the East Central University (ECU) football team. He is a history major and plans to teach and coach after graduation.
Moses Williams, 21, is a tribal member of the Sac & Fox Nation and of the Fox Clan. His Indian name is Nânakô, and means ‘fox in hiding’. Moses is the son of Terry Williams and Jacklyn King. His hometown is Stroud, Oklahoma and he attends East Central University, located in Ada, Oklahoma.
“I played my freshman and sophomore seasons at ECU as a defensive tackle. I’ve then switched to the offensive line where I’ve been playing center and guard for my junior and senior seasons,” added Moses.
“My tribal core values are my family, and the people who came before me,” said Moses. “I’ve been given the opportunity as a Native American to do something with my life. Many kids grow up with dreams, and many do not accomplish those dreams. My family is very important to me. My last name, my hometown, my friends, are what keeps me going everyday to be the best me I can be.”
“My dad Terry Williams is my best friend and also my coach,” said Moses. “As a young child, my dream was to play college sports. I wouldn’t have accomplished that dream without my dad. After all of the countless nights alone in the weight room, track, hills, etc… and we found a way to get better. I am thankful to have that guide in my life. He is my role model.”
“Moses is my son,” said dad Terry Williams. “Moses has always wanted to be a football player. He has always wanted to work harder than the next guy. I’ve been lucky enough to coach him from little league through high school. I’ve proud of the man he has become.”
“My high school head coach Chris Elerick influenced me in many ways,” said Moses. “He brought me in as a young kid and developed me into the athlete I am today. He’s taught me some very important details as a player. One is mental toughness, and that alone is very hard to figure out. To play a sport like football, mentally, you need to be tougher than the man across from you. Coach Elerick has heavily preached that into my life.”
“When I think of Moses Williams, the first thoughts revolve around toughness, hard work, and absolute love and respect for the game of football,” said Chris Elerick, head football coach at Stroud High School in Oklahoma.
“Moses started every game in his high school career for four years. This included a game where a gash on his nose was super glued and re-super glued at half time, games with twisted ankles, and dozens of other things,” added Chris.
“Moses has always taken work to the next level,” said Chris. “Going to the field with his dad during the summer and doing drill work in the evenings was just a part of his normal day, nothing extra to him. He is a great practice player as well and his effort isn’t just great on game night, he practices extremely hard as well.”
“He led our team through his example of work. Moses has always not just had an intense love for the game, but also a respect for the game that runs deep. He is a real team guy that plays the game the right way,” added Chris.
“I remember when he was very young and started coming to our summer workouts, and some of the stuff he could barely do, or maybe couldn’t do at all,” said Chris. “Most kids that age would quit, or at least quit trying to do those drills. Not Moses. He just kept trying day after day after day. He dealt with failure as a chance to succeed, and he did. I’ve always respected that and I learned it about him when he was young.”
“Moses has also been very loyal to our program and very protective of it,” said Chris. “As a senior he was very protective of some of the younger players. He just did things the right way in his time here with much appreciation and respect for him.”
“I’m excited that he wants to become a coach after college, I think he’ll be a great one!” said Chris.
“My current head coach and offensive line coach is Al Johnson at East Central University,” said Moses. “After being a former NFL offensive lineman, he brings a lot of knowledge to the table when it comes to being an offensive lineman. Since making the switch from defensive line, to offensive line. He has brought me in, since the day I’ve made the switch. One thing he has done is given me tough love, but also preaches family. I feel that from him, as well as my teammates.”
“We are very grateful to have Moses at East Central and playing for our Tiger Family,” said Al Johnson, East Carolina University head football coach. “When our staff arrived, Moses had played DL his freshman year and continued to into his sophomore year as well. Since our staff was new we did not recruit him, we were unaware how good of an offensive linemen he was in high school. Which in part describes who Moses is, very hard working but very humble and does not talk about him self much.”
“Fast forward to last year, we needed help on the offensive line and Moses wanted to make the move. In the world of college football that is not an easy thing to do, he did a great job with it. Going into this season, which will be Moses senior year and being our only senior O-lineman he has really become a leader. Moses is a man of few words, who works tremendously hard each and everyday to become better. I love Moses and we are all lucky to have him at East Central!” added Coach Al.
“There’s one important thing I’ve started to realize after all these years of playing football,” said Moses. “Every coach, and every teammate has built me into the player I am today. I’ve learned a little piece of something from everyone. For that, it is the reason I love this game. It is the reason I plan to coach one day. I want to help build a player’s legacy and career by leading the way for them. Just like the people who have influenced me.”
“Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, I’ve been working out from home with my dad,” said Moses. “We go to the track five times a week to do body weight workouts to make sure my body stays in shape during this time away from school. We try to find the best possible ways to maximize my performance. Whether it’s pushing trucks, pushups, body weight squats, etc… We are finding a way to get better.”
“I am staying well during this pandemic. Unfortunately, we are not able to practice during this time, and I’m missing the grind with my teammates. This does allow me to get some much needed time with my family. It gives me time to heal physically and mentally. I’m able to keep in touch with my offensive line during weekly meetings. I’m also taking the time to go workout during the week as well,” added Moses.
“I’m working to be a teacher and coach after college,” said Moses. “I believe any knowledge is the best knowledge. The more I can learn now, the better I will be later in life. For now, I try to improve myself mentally, and physically the best I can be for the team. Being a student athlete means I need to put in the same amount of work inside the classroom as well as on the field.”
“Spirituality, I know the people who have come before me and the people I’ve lost in my life are looking over me,” said Moses. “Many of the things I do are for them. My goal is to make them proud with whatever I do. As a man, a student, a player, I strive to be the best I can be.”
“Mental toughness is a hard thing to pick up on,” said Moses. “Fortunately, I was taught this at a young age. Something my dad and coaches harped on throughout high school. In football, it is important to never show your weakness to the opponent across from you. Mental toughness is what sets you apart as a player, as well in life.”
“I would like to be seen as the native athlete who is eyeing the finish line in college,” said Moses. “It is rare to see a small town athlete to go off and finish what they’ve started. Let alone, a Native American. It is something I’m proud of, and it’s what keeps me going everyday.”
“I want to be a role model for kids to come, and show them they can do anything, as long as they are willing to do the work,” said Moses.
Photo Credit: Kentaaj Adamson
