Where are they now? Former Michigan DB Brandon Williams immersed in Texas football, BBQ

Note: This Michigan feature story ran in the October issue of The Wolverine Magazine. For access to the full issue or to subscribe for our digital and print editions, head over to TheWolverineOnDemand.com to get yours today!

Michigan formally dedicated and renamed the tunnel at Michigan Stadium after legendary coach Lloyd Carr, who led the Wolverines to a national title in 1997, before U-M’s win over Penn State over the weekend.

But Carr’s legacy extends beyond just his title team. He made a big impact on a number of ex-Wolverines, including former defensive back Brandon Williams.

“Seeing everything that Coach Carr gets means a lot,” Williams said. “Even now, we all talk about the things that he taught us. The majority of us that coach, it has a little bit of Michigan in it. It has some Lloyd in it. I posted about him getting the tunnel today. I couldn’t think of a quote, but two things that came to mind were ‘if you can’t keep them from getting a yard, get off my damn field’ and ‘blue twisted steel.’ I’ve never seen blue twisted steel, but I assume it’s tough and hard to tear apart.

“I used to have people ask what it was like to play at Michigan. I didn’t really know what to say since I never played anywhere else. But I did say I never felt like we were going to lose a game. He had us mentally ready for everything — games, school and off the field situations. He was a huge part of the program.” 

Carr helped shape Williams into the man he is today — a coach, a philanthropist and a father. But there was a time Williams had the weight of the world on his shoulders and was almost pressured to say no to Carr on the recruiting trail.

Williams was a USA Today All-American defensive back from Omaha Central in Nebraska. Naturally, many believed Williams would stay home and play for the in-state Huskers. Instead, Williams went against conventional wisdom and sided with Michigan.

“I did it the year after we split the natty, so I was ruffling feathers,” Williams said. “Nebraska was pretty much like Alabama at that time. Everybody where I was from always went there without taking a visit anywhere else. I remember Lou Holtz came to pick up (former Green Bay Packers running back) Ahman Green in a white limousine. I knew for a fact he was going to Notre Dame. But he committed to Nebraska without taking a visit.

“Once it got to be my chance, I said I wanted to take all five visits, and I did. I actually decided it was going to be Michigan before I visited Nebraska, but my high school coach said ‘if you choose anywhere besides Nebraska without visiting, you won’t get any honors.’ He made me delay my announcement and visit Nebraska. But Coach Car knew. Today, they would call it a silent commitment. They understood I had to play the political game.”

A big reason Williams picked Michigan over Nebraska was the family feel. The ‘Michigan Family’ is brought up quite a bit in interviews and while it may sound cliché, it is in fact genuine. Even today, Williams still feels connected to the Maize and Blue.

“The biggest thing I miss is my teammates,” Williams said. “I still talk to them every day. We have like three or four different group texts, and they all intertwine. The camaraderie at Michigan is different. The coaches used to tell us there is no cliques in our group. That’s how we were. When the country was really divided with racial issues, we had a big group of white players reach out to the black players, and we had a two-hour Zoom call one night. There were about 40 of us online. As much I loved playing in The Big House, it was more of the people I was playing with.”

Williams played in 45 games at Michigan and started six contests. He racked up 74 tackles, two interceptions and two fumble recoveries in his career in Ann Arbor. Williams went undrafted but signed with the NFL’s Denver Broncos in 2003. He went on to spend time with the Atlanta Falcons, Cincinnati Bengals and New York Giants before retiring in 2008.

Following his playing career, Williams returned to Nebraska, where he was involved in the organization of several youth camps. He also worked for a strategic planning firm, Castle Oaks Advisors, and helped professional athletes transition to non-playing careers.

However, Williams had a passion for coaching. In 2012, Williams attended an NFL Coaching Academy in Dallas-Fort Worth to learn more about the industry. Little did he know, Texas, the mecca of high school football, would soon be his home.

“I was doing some camps and programs in Nebraska, but we were pissing in the wind,” Williams  said. “Even when I was there, I was considered weird for wanting to go into the NFL. When I went to the academy, I was with Michael Haynes from Penn State. He was coaching in Crowley, Texas, and he told me what it was like down here. I ended up changing my flight. My wife applied to four different jobs. I did the academy, and she got three offers.

“I went to a lineman challenge at Arlington High School, and that’s when I knew I needed to be here. I moved down here sight unseen. I had a month to meet people. I joined Michigan alumni groups and went from there. The first person I met was (former kicker) Remy Hamilton, and he introduced me to people.”

Williams eventually landed an assistant coaching position at Fort Worth All Saints. With Williams on staff, All Saints has become one of the premier private school programs in the Lone Star State and consistently churns out DI level talent.

“It’s as intense as a small college for sure,” Williams said. “It’s fun coaching high school ball here. It gives you a good chance to see if you want to move to the next level or stay where you at. Coaching just felt natural for me. It’s hard to make a living playing forever and forcing yourself to do something. Down here, I can make a living coaching and training. If I were in a different state, I may not have even been able to coach.”

Williams roomed with Michigan wide receivers coach Ron Bellamy during his time in Ann Arbor. Of course, Bellamy is known for helping lead West Bloomfield (Mich.) High to a Michigan state championship before becoming an assistant a U-M.

However, Williams doesn’t envision himself following the same path. Along with coaching at All Saints, Williams also runs his own club 7v7 program, Texas Swoosh, and hosts private training sessions in the offseason for defensive back prospects across the state. Williams is just happy where he’s at.

“I like running my own stuff,” Williams said. “I like taking kids to different colleges. I took a big group of kids to Michigan and Notre Dame camps in the offseason. Football was hard work, but I enjoyed it. I like being able to make a living off of things I enjoy. I know that’s not always logical. But I’ve done multiple things in my life that started off as an illogical thought just like going to Michigan.”

Staying at the high school level will also allow Williams to focus on his family — his son, Jayvont, is a 2023 athlete recruit with several FBS offers — as well as his newfound passion — Texas BBQ.

“Besides my coaching and blowing up my training clinics, I want to do BBQ,” Williams said. “I keep getting better at it. I study it the way I study football. If I have big orders coming up, I binge watch Pit Masters. I take the same pride in it as I did winning and making a play. I have a big nine-foot smoker. I ship briskets and have catered a couple of pregame meals.

“I have to figure out the travel, but I want to do contests soon. You never lose that competitiveness. I remember Coach Carr used to say the same thing about (Nick) Saban — do not make me go shake that bleep’s hand after a loss.”

Naturally, Williams’ new BBQ business is coined after his Michigan roots — Blue Smoke BBQ.