Wayne Williams

Former Syracuse football defensive tackle Wayne Williams says he will workout for the New York Giants on April 8.

(Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com)

Syracuse, N.Y. — Former Syracuse football defensive lineman Wayne Williams will soon get a chance to rekindle a feeling he has been missing ever since his college football career ended.

Since his arrival at Syracuse as a junior-college transfer was delayed because he didn't qualify academically, a succession of issues accompanied him. He came to Syracuse out of shape. An injury shortened his season in 2014. The following summer, he left the team and transferred to Division II West Georgia, where another injury forced him to miss the majority of the season.

Each time an obstacle arose, Williams looked at it as if he had something to prove. And for the first time since his eligibility clock expired in the fall, Williams is starting to get that feeling again.

Williams, who does not have an agent, said he will work out for the New York Giants on Friday at the team's facility. Former quarterback Terrel Hunt is also expected to work out for the Giants then.

"It kind of makes me feel more confident about my skill cause some kids are getting workouts from teams as favors from their agent just knowing people," Williams said. "I don't have that luxury.

"I'm honestly taking it as I go. New York is the first stop for my workouts and hopefully not my last. (I) missed having something to prove."

Williams revealed the news in a Facebook post Tuesday morning. In subsequent messages, he talked for the first time about the circumstances surrounding his departure from Syracuse, a topic that NFL teams have questioned him about.

He did not think he was treated fairly by the previous coaching staff but insisted he harbors no ill will toward Scott Shafer.

"I don't think I was treated fairly at all, honestly, and my departure from Syracuse hurt my career," Williams said, "but you can't let that stop you from where you're headed.

"My only problem with Syracuse was 'not going to class,' but how can you not go to class and have great grades? I didn't even get a suspension from the team, which is common. I got forced out, which was turned into me asking for a release.

"Why would I want to be released from a team that I'm going to start (on) in one of the best conferences there is to play? A good game against LSU could have changed my life."

Williams said he carried a 2.9 grade-point average at the time he left Syracuse. He said he attended class and that football staffers "did a horrible job checking for us" to track who went to class.

Williams bemoaned the fact Shafer would put more trust in his staffers who checked class attendance than Williams' word.

"They read off a list of people who miss class after a practice, and you're doing some sort of punishment," Williams said. "There really is no debate about it. I just wish (Shafer) was more of a players' coach, tend to your players. It's a time when you can be the dominant ruling coach, but your players want to feel you got their back, too."

Williams said he was told by the staff "this wasn't going to work." Syracuse announced last June he was no longer on the team and would seek a transfer.

"It wasn't my decision," Williams said. "I would never want to leave Cuse."

An attempt to reach Shafer was not answered.

Williams' luck did not improve at West Georgia. He said he suffered a Jones fracture in his foot early in the season that caused him to miss nearly three months. A Jones fracture is a broken bone in the fifth metatarsal of the foot.

"I wanted to play earlier, but coach (Will) Hall said, 'Don't worry, you're a great player and you belong in the NFL,' so I sat back and healed. First game out the cast (I) dominated Northwestern Missouri."

Williams recorded five of his 11 tackles on the season against Northwestern Missouri, which would go on to win the NCAA Division II championship last season.

He said he was three classes shy of graduating but does not have money to return to Syracuse and finish his degree.

In five games at Syracuse, he recorded nine tackles and recovered one fumble. A career that started with dreams of being an All-American ended with a whimper.

"I just wish (Shafer) handled things better as my head coach," Williams said. "I'm not just a player. I'm a person with a family that depends on me just like his does."

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