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>> Hello, I'm Markell Williams; number 31.
I play nickleback for Sac State Hornets.
Growing up there were a lot of obstacles.
I think the biggest thing was domestic violence
that was taking place in my family.
Just kind of overcoming that adversity was challenge
but once it was over and done, I kind of grew
and became very mature and strong from the situation.
At first I was a huge basketball player;
I wanted to be in the NBA.
Then I actually played football for the first time
in freshman year of high school and I kind
of just started loving it,
so I wanted to become a football player.
[Inaudible Football Conversation] The first day
on Sac State campus, it was very overwhelming.
It was kind of like I was being pushed into the water
with no floaties so it was very overwhelming,
but it was exciting at the same time.
I would definitely think of myself
as strong-willed and driven.
Throughout my life people have said I was a great leader
so I've kind of become more accustomed to that
and have taken control of it, trying to progress every day
to become a better leader.
[Inaudible Football Conversation] When I step
on the field and the game-like atmosphere, I feel like yelling
at the top of my lungs.
My muscles are tense, my heart is pounding,
my mind is in destroy mode and I'm just amped.
So the feeling is unbelievable, but I feel like I've arrived
and I made it to greatness.
It's important to be well-rounded and not just think
about football because there's a life after football.
You have to get a job and you know you have
to excel in the real world.
So to have a great educational background
and have a great GPA is going to be huge for you
because you've got to compete with others.
A piece of advice I would give
to student athletes everywhere is don't take anything
for granted.
Live each and every moment of your life like it's your last.
Put everything you have into 125 percent.
[Inaudible Football Conversation] You definitely
have to be focused in class and listen
to what the teacher is saying.
And I think the biggest thing
that a student athlete should know is that they need
to understand their professors, each individual professor,
because they all have different requirements
in how they want to do things.
[Applause] A little bit about the program;
Coach Sperbeck has made a tremendous, tremendous effort
to make us mature young men and he really taught us
like to be better leaders.
[Whistle Blows] A path here at Sac State;
I've been helped by many people.
I've been touched, you know?
Just them helping me get to where I'm at today,
I've kind of wanted to help somebody else
and better somebody else's life.
Sac State is a welcoming campus.
It's beautiful; they have plenty of trees and it's an atmosphere
that you want to be a part of.
[Crowd Noise] We're playing against Cal Poly
and I got injured; I tore all my ligaments in my ankles
so I had surgery 3 weeks ago so I've been
on crutches since then.
[Crowd Noise] I don't know all I can do is thank God
and my family.
Honestly, just...I can't even explain the feeling;
it's just a relief.
>> We did it baby!
>> I'm Markell Williams and I was made at Sac State.
[ Music ]