Sam Williams on move to Texas: 'I was bored. I need new friends'

Dallas Cowboys rookie defensive end Sam Williams is still settling in to his new home in Texas. The Alabama native and Ole Miss product was taken in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft in April and has kept himself busy with plenty of offseason practices and workouts.

But when it comes to his time outside of football, the rookie has been at a loss for what to do.

As anyone who has moved to a new city can attest though, those first few months can take some getting used to as you meet new people and find things to do. Asked how he has spent his off days, Williams offered a hilarious response and plea for help from his fellow Texans.

“I don’t know anybody in Texas,” Williams said. “I was bored. I need new friends. Whoever is listening, if you want to be my friend let me know. I was bored.”

Williams is coming off of a record-setting year at Ole Miss that saw him become the school’s single-season sack leader with 12.5. He also recorded 16 tackles for a loss and four forced fumbles on his way to earning first team All-SEC honors. The Cowboys hope that will carry over into his pro career as he looks to carve out a role on the defensive line this upcoming season.

As for his move to Texas, Sam Williams will likely grow more comfortable in the state as time goes on. Thankfully, while he has yet to develop many friendship outside of football, his new coaches and teammates have welcomed him with open arms.

Sam Williams on his relationship with Cowboys coaches

While Williams is joining a new team as he begins his NFL career, he already has a sense of familiarity with the Cowboys coaching staff.

Williams specifically mentioned Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn as someone he has a close relationship with already. When he visited the team before the draft, he joked that he should miss his flight so he never has to leave. That kind of feeling and relationship is something that Williams loves about the Cowboys.

“I mean every coach I encounter, like if it was like that, I mean I hope so,” Williams said. “But DQ and AD and all the other guys, it’s just different. Like when I came here, I told him I was gonna miss my flight on purpose so I won’t have to leave. It’s just a connection that I can’t explain. Like today, I had fun today and coaches pumping us up, they’re teaching us and pumping us up at the same time. You can’t ask for anything better than that.”

Williams’ relationship with Quinn has grown quickly, and that has helped him get accustomed to the NFL level of play. Even though he hasn’t played for the team before, he feels like he’s been around for a while already.

“It’s just like we’ve known each other for like years I feel like, because every time I see him it’s like, ‘What up DQ, what up Sam,’” said Williams. “It’s all love. Like I just feel like it’s with all the coaches actually. Like I’ve been here before but I haven’t.”

On3’s Jonathan Wagner contributed to this report.