Johnstown coach Tony Penna Jr. recalled four years ago when Alkwan Williams was placed on the scout team during the Trojans’ August preseason camp.
The talented linebacker didn’t remain on the scout team very long. Two or three practices sessions, and Williams was a first-teamer.
“This kid came here as a freshman, and you hear he’s a good player but you don’t know what you’re getting,” said Penna, who was an assistant coach on that 2008 squad. “He was on the scout team as a freshman and we couldn’t block him. Nothing’s changed.”
Indeed. Williams finished his senior season with 136 tackles and four sacks for the 9-2 Trojans. The 6-foot-1, 218-pound Williams made 31 tackles for a loss of yardage totaling 92 yards.
He returned a fumble 78 yards for a touchdown against rival Bishop McCort and took a ball out of the air on a hard hit on the quarterback and ran 33 yards for a key score at Forest Hills.
The Pitt-bound Williams made the big play or had the crucial stop throughout another stellar season en route to being named The Tribune-Democrat Defensive Player of the Year for 2011.
“Once the ball is snapped I’m getting to the ball and getting to where I’m supposed to be,” said the soft-spoken Williams, whose actions on the field send a clear message to opposing offenses.
“I’m just always trying to be around the ball. Against McCort, I saw the ball and picked it up and ran. The Forest Hills one, one of my teammates stripped the ball. It landed in my hands and I ran.”
Sounds simple enough.
- Click here to read Cory Isenberg's rundown of the T-D 2011 All-Area Team
- Click here to read Mike Mastovich's profile of Offensive Player of the Year: Colin Bryan
- Click here to read Shawn Curtis' profile of Coach of the Year: Brandon Bailey
- Click here to watch the X-Mas episode of The T-D Club, featuring interviews and bios for the All-Area 2011 Team
A four-time Tribune-Democrat All-Area selection and three-time, first-team pick, Williams finished with 520 career tackles.
He had 21 sacks, 115 tackles for a loss of yardage, five interceptions, eight forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
He recorded his 400th tackle during a Week 2 win over visiting Penn Cambria. As was the case so often during his Trojans career, Williams rose to the occasion, stopping Panthers quarterback Andrew Buck on a sneak for no gain on a fourth-and-1 play from the Johnstown 24-yard line.
The play enabled Johnstown to maintain a 12-point advantage in a game it eventually won 34-8.
“He has that knack to make that great play when his team needs it most,” Penna said. “The ball pops out against McCort, and he’s there. The bubble screen against McCort his junior year at the Point, he’s there. The interception against Forest Hills, he’s there.”
Williams recorded double-digit tackles in nine of Johnstown’s 11 game. He had
16 stops against both Clearfield in a PIAA Class AAA subregional playoffs and Penn Cambria in Week 2. He made 15 tackles in a wild 35-27 win over Richland and had 15 more in a 42-17 victory at Bedford.
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