Growing up playing football and accomplishing your dreams playing Division-I football for a power football school is all many kids could ask for. Then, suddenly having it ripped away from you and being “medically retired,” is something that can be life changing in either a good way or a bad way. Former Coug Kendall Williams made sure it was in a good way.
In 2021 the 6-foot-2 300 pound lineman from San Diego committed to the Cougs. He did not appear in any games his freshman year due to redshirting. Then he was medically retired from WSU ending his football career.
“For a while it felt unreal. The first few days were hard because I did not accept what had happened, I wanted to go back in time and change things,” Williams said.
One day you are playing for a Division-I program with Cam Ward and Jaden Hicks and the next your access to football facilities is revoked.
“I was told I could work out at the rec center. I was only allowed in the locker room because I was cutting hair [in] there,” he said.
Williams has had a passion for cutting hair since highschool. In 10th grade he took being a barber more seriously. He used to cut his teammates hair in the locker room and continued after he was no longer with the team. Now he cuts from his apartment instead of the locker room.
Williams realized who was real to him and who was not. When you think your friend is going to the NFL or is a popular football player you become a “yes man”. However, he noticed that once he was done with football some people left him and others stayed. His family was there for him and the situation made them even closer.
“I saw no change in how my family treated me. If anything they got more supportive with me not playing anymore,” Williams said. “They comforted me and expressed their love, which made it a lot easier to deal with no longer playing.”
Life after football has been great according to Williams. He saw himself as a football player but now without it, he was able to discover who he truly is. At first he was depressed but has found his way out of it and is happier than ever.
“Life without football has shown me that I didn’t need football to feel accomplished or to feel like I am worth something,” Williams said.
The cherry on top for Williams is that WSU honored his full ride scholarship. Williams is continuing his passion of cutting hair and getting his bachelor degree in social science.
