Kyle Williams idolized Diggs, but doesn’t want Patriots teammate to know

Kyle Williams will not be solely dwelling his lifelong dream of taking part in within the NFL, however he’s additionally doing it alongside a participant he grew up admiring.

The Patriots’ rookie shared that Stefon Diggs was his favourite large receiver rising up as a child in Inglewood, California, following Saturday’s coaching camp observe. Nevertheless, the Patriots’ veteran large receiver doesn’t know that.

“Nah, not but,” Williams told reporters with a laugh when requested if Diggs knew in regards to the admiration he has for him. “As soon as he retires, then I obtained it.”

It is perhaps onerous for Diggs to not know that now as Williams wasn’t shy to share with the media. He additionally didn’t hesitate to share why Diggs was his favourite large receiver rising up.

“I imply, he was simply completely different. He was artful,” Williams stated. “I imply, there was one thing about him that caught out to me and I simply gravitated in the direction of him.”

Williams, who was born in Maryland, recalled Diggs’s faculty profession at Maryland for when he began to admire his new teammate.

“When he was popping out of Maryland, when he was that No. 1, I keep in mind there was a spotlight video of Emmitt Smith, or one thing like that, and I simply stored watching him daily,” Williams stated.

Williams didn’t make clear what the connection between the spotlight video of Diggs and Smith was, but it surely’s a sign that he’s been a fan of Diggs for longer than possibly the four-time Professional Bowler’s most ardent supporters. Diggs had a stable faculty profession at Maryland, recording 2,227 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns over three seasons. Nevertheless, he wasn’t a family identify amongst faculty followers and was chosen by the Vikings within the fifth spherical of the 2015 NFL Draft.

The identical might be stated about Williams, though his lack of fanfare within the faculty sport might need extra to do with the place he performed slightly than an absence of high-end manufacturing. He was arguably probably the greatest non-power convention large receivers in 2024, recording 70 receptions for 1,198 yards and 14 touchdowns at Washington State final season.

In the course of the draft course of, Williams appeared to climb up prospect boards as scouts have been impressed by his capacity to separate on the line of scrimmage. That led the Patriots to take him with their high third-round choose, deciding on Williams at No. 69 general.

Williams has been one of many high headlines via the primary 4 days of Patriots coaching camp. He’s gotten reps with the beginning unit, while his performance on Day 1 appeared to captivate everybody who was in attendance.

If Williams has extra days like that, it’d be powerful to ascertain him not being one of many Patriots’ beginning receivers. As Williams was 12 when Diggs was drafted, beginning alongside him would actually cement a decade’s outdated dream.

“It’s been a blessing. He’s my favourite receiver,” Williams stated. “Being proper subsequent to him is only a God[-given] present.”