On Wednesday, Long County High School athlete Gerald "L.G." Williams Jr. signed a letter-of-intent to play football for Fort Valley State University in 2017. Williams, who played linebacker for the Blue Tide football team said that it was a dream come true getting a scholarship to play college ball.
"It’s my dream, I prayed every night, I kept on praying, and I kept trying my hardest hoping to get my chance," he said.
Williams’ mother, Tina and father Gerald Sr. praised their son and said that seeing him achieve his goal made them both very proud.
"I’m thankful to God and I’m so very proud of him, but I want him above all to always put God first," said Tina Williams.
"God can do anything and everything, I’m so thankful that L.G. is going to get the chance to play college football like he’s always dreamed," said Gerald Williams Sr.
As a senior, Williams was the second leading tackler on the football team having 70 tackles this season. This year he also had two fumble recoveries and made five tackles behind the line of scrimmage.
Williams was a three-year letterman for Long County and in 2015 he made the 2-AA All-Region football team.
Williams will be joining a Wildcat football team that won the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championship in 2016 beating Kentucky State University 33-30.
When asked did he have any advice to other athletes or individuals pursuing a dream, Williams said, "Stay prayed up and never give up."
Williams becomes the third member of the 2016 Blue Tide football team to sign letters of intent to play football on scholarship at the next level.
On Wednesday cornerback Tariq Carpenter also signed a letter-of-intent to play for the Georgia Institute of Technology, and last month fellow linebacker Jamin Davis signed to play for the University of Kentucky.