Dec. 22, 2017
By Greg Ostendorf
AuburnTigers.com
AUBURN, Ala. ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" In a span of roughly two months, Auburn linebacker Tre' Williams will have beaten both No. 1 Georgia and No. 1 Alabama, graduated from college, played his final game as an Auburn Tiger in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl and returned to his hometown to play in the Reese's Senior Bowl.
We caught up with Williams before the Christmas break and asked him to reflect on what he's already accomplished at Auburn and what the future holds.
Q: The Peach Bowl is going to be your last game at Auburn. Has that sunk in yet?
Williams: "To be honest, I really don't know how to feel. It came so quick. It hasn't really hit me yet. I graduated Saturday, and that still hasn't hit me yet. I'll forever be an Auburn Tiger, but just wearing that uniform one last time ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" I get to wear the helmet at the Senior Bowl, but it's not the same."
Q: What are you going to remember most from your time on at Auburn?
Williams: "That's a good question. I guess I can say two things. First, just the different people I've met here, the different characters I've experienced, the different backgrounds I learned about. Just dealing with a lot of different personalities and a lot of different coaching styles, and all that played a part. And also, just the environment and the atmosphere on Saturdays up in Jordan-Hare Stadium with Tiger Walk and everything. That's amazing. I visited colleges when I was getting recruited, and I haven't seen anything like it. And especially this year, I feel like Jordan-Hare Stadium was just electric all year. It's crazy that we didn't lose one game at home this year. That was really special. This senior year meant a lot to me."
Q: You were injured throughout most of your senior year. How difficult or frustrating was it at times to play through the pain?
Williams: "It was extremely frustrating, especially at the beginning when we didn't really know what it was. You have a lot of outside people thinking, 'Oh, he's trying to sit out to save himself.' That really wasn't the case. My teammates had my back. My coaches understood. We have really great trainers who did a lot to help me out. And of course, my family, my support system. But mentally, just for myself, it was frustrating. I'm a competitor, and just leaving games and sitting out games is something I don't ever plan on doing. I had to do it this year just to take care of myself, but my teammates had my back. Even if I came out a game or didn't play a game, they didn't really miss a step. A lot of guys stepped up this year, and I feel like by me having this injury, it might have helped somebody else out. There are some positives and negatives to it. I really wish it didn't happen, but I can't be too mad. It's all in God's plan."
Q: What motivated you to play through the pain at times this year?
Williams: "I can speak on the Georgia and Alabama games. Our strength coach, Coach [Ryan] Russell, came to us during summer workouts, and he was like, 'This senior group, y'all could be the group that has never beat Alabama or Georgia.' And that sat with me like the whole time. So when those games came up, I got extra treatment. I was really smart in practice. And I just told myself, 'Man, one way or another, we've got to beat those guys.' If I have to play hurting or whatever, we've got to have it."
Q: You mentioned the Senior Bowl. How big of a deal was that for you to get that invite? You'll be playing in your hometown.
Williams: "When I got that invite, it was a dream come true. I grew up watching these guys, and I was thinking to myself, 'One day, I'll be able to play in this game.' I haven't played back in Mobile since high school, and like I said, it's a dream come true. I get to play in front of my family. A lot of family members who weren't able to make it up to Auburn, they'll be able to see me play. I just have to go down there and do what I always do."
Q: This is it for you. But when you think about Auburn next year, how good do you think this team can be?
Williams: "I feel like they're going to be better because they experienced the top. My senior class, we didn't really experience the top. These guys actually made it to the SEC championship, so they know what it takes and how it feels. And a lot of people don't know, but that actually plays a part. When you experience those things, you start to remember like 'Oh yeah, I remember how this went last year, so we're going to learn from that.' I feel like that's how it's going to be next year. Those guys are going to make it back and even further because they've been there and they know what to do. And of course, we're going to have the same coaching staff and they already trust and believe in them, so that will take us a long way."
Greg Ostendorf is a Senior Writer for AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: Follow @greg_ostendorf