Williams healthy and hungry

  • By Mike Allende / Herald Writer
  • Sunday, August 14, 2005 9:00pm
  • Sports

SEATTLE – Corey Williams said he didn’t see it coming until it was too late.

In the third quarter of the University of Washington’s loss at Notre Dame last season, Williams failed to catch a pass in the back of the end zone. Then he began to slide.

Williams said he slipped on cement in front of the wall in back of the end zone, and ran straight into the brick wall.

“There wasn’t really anything I could do,” Williams said. “I couldn’t stop because there wasn’t any grass to step on. And I didn’t want to fall down because I thought I’d hurt my leg. I just tried to brace myself, but I guess I was moving too fast.”

Williams, who was establishing himself as a potential replacement to the departed Reggie Williams, thought he had sprained his wrist.

He thought wrong.

Upon returning to Seattle, Williams learned that his wrist was badly broken and he would miss the rest of the season.

Besides the break, the wrist also was dislocated, there were torn tendons and pinched nerves. He still has two pins in the wrist.

“When it first happened, it didn’t hurt that much,” Williams said. “It hurt worse later. People didn’t realize how bad it was. I’d get all kinds of comments from people about how could I still be in a cast with a broken wrist. That hurt because I knew how bad I wanted to get back to playing.”

And why not? Williams began to show what he was capable of at the end of the 2003 season, when he scored a game-winning 21-yard touchdown with 1:10 left in the Apple Cup. He finished that year with five catches, two for touchdowns. He picked up his production at the beginning of 2004, making five catches for 56 yards against UCLA and five catches for 72 yards against Notre Dame before going down.

Luckily for the 6-foot-3 Williams, he received a medical redshirt last season and maintained his sophomore eligibility. He came back during spring practice, though he couldn’t take part in contact drills.

“It felt good to be back out there,” Williams said. “I felt like I was going to have a great season before I got hurt. But the toughest thing was having to sit around and watch us lose and know that I could be helping us be a better team if I could be out there.”

Williams is back to full participation now and, along with the 6-5 Craig Chambers, could give Washington a pair of tall, athletic receivers. Williams said he isn’t worried about getting hit for the first time.

“You can’t play scared,” he said. “Getting hurt, that was a fluke thing. It wasn’t because I got hit. My game is to go after every ball and make plays. I can’t do that if I’m worried about getting hit.”

“Any time you get hurt, that’s going to stay in your mind,” Washington receivers coach Eric Yarber said. “It’s just about how you deal with it. He’s worked hard to get back into shape. He’s got talent to be a playmaker for us. He’s got good size, he can run, he can jump. He’s going to be someone we can count on.”

Like most of his teammates, Williams, a Las Vegas native, spent the summer in Seattle working out. He said he has plenty to prove this year. He’s hoping that by showing that his start to last season was only a beginning, he can help Washington’s offense turn around a disastrous 2004.

“Last year, we had so many injuries, it feels like that wasn’t really us,” Williams said. “If we can all stay healthy, I think we can have a great season, and hopefully I can be a part of that.”

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Jackson’s Chanyoung Park putts during the 4A District 1 Golf Tournament at Snohomish Golf Course on Wednesday, May 14, 2025 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Chanyoung Park, Jackson girls golf claim District 1 4A titles

The sophomore headlines the Timberwolves’ underclassmen trio on the road to state.

Jackson's Gracie Schouten warms up before a District 1 4A playoff match on May 14, 2025 at Mill Creek Tennis Club. (Qasim Ali / The Herald)
Jackson, Glacier Peak and Mariner girls tennis secure state spots

Jackson took first and second in singles; Glacier Peak won doubles at the District 1 4A Tournament.

Shorewood's Rylie Gettmann hits the ball during a Class 3A District 1 girls tennis tournament at Snohomish High School in Snohomish, Washington on Wednesday, May 15, 2024. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Shorewood’s Rylie Gettmann four-peats as district tennis champ

Mari Brittle and Bridget Cox completed a Stormrays sweep with the doubles title.

Glacier Peak’s Samantha Nielsen runs across home plate during the game against Issaquah on Monday, May 12, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep softball roundup for Wednesday, May 14

Grizzlies roar back to earn state softball bid.

Vote for The Herald’s Prep Athlete of the Week for May 4-10

The Athlete of the Week nominees for May 4-10. Voting closes at… Continue reading

Seattle Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) reacts after sacking quarterback Aaron Rodgers Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in East Rutherford, N.J. (Andrew Mills / Tribune News Services)
NFL releases Seahawks’ 2025 schedule

Early DK Metcalf reunion, SF opener, 4 primetime games highlight slate.

Sonics’ return? NBA commissioner talks expansion

By now, it’s like the drip, drip, drip of a leaky faucet.… Continue reading

Kamiak’s Aaron Choi hits a drive during the 4A District 1 Boys Golf Championship at Legion Memorial Golf Course on Tuesday, May 13, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Kamiak boys golf swings Day 2 comeback to win District 1 4A

Knights overcome six-stroke Day 1 deficit as Jackson’s Kang wins individual title.

Snohomish’s Tully VanAssche places his ball on the green to putt during the 3A District 1 Boys Golf Championship at Legion Memorial Golf Course on Tuesday, May 13, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Snohomish boys golf paces District 1 3A field

Panthers win by 30 strokes as second-place Marysville-Getchell qualifies for first time.

Monroe's Cody Duncan (14) and Connor Dayley (10) prepare for a set piece during a District 1 boys soccer playoff game against Marysville Getchell on May 13, 2025 at Shoreline Stadium. (Qasim Ali / The Herald)
Monroe boys soccer downs Marysville Getchell, clinches state spot

The Bearcats control possession all game, win district semifinal 3-0.

Stanwood’s Addi Anderson pitches during the game against Monroe on Thursday, May 1, 2025 in Monroe, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep softball roundup for Tuesday, May 13

Addi Anderson leads Stanwood to state.

Stanwood’s Gavin Gehrman spoils a two-strike pitch during a playoff loss to Kentlake on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, at Kent Meridian High School in Kent, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Prep baseball roundup for Tuesday, May 13

Spartans walk into state tournament.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.