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Calgary Stampeders quarterback Quincy Vaughn, left, celebrates a touchdown with teammate Zack Williams in 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES\/Jeff McIntosh<\/p>\n
The promising offensive lineman skipped classes and let his grades slip, leaving the program with no choice but to revoke his scholarship.<\/p>\n
\u201cI knew school wasn\u2019t my strength back in the day. And when I went to university, I didn\u2019t know what I wanted to take,\u201d Williams, now a member of the Calgary Stampeders, told the Free Press on Thursday. The Stamps host the Winnipeg Blue Bombers tonight at 8 p.m. CT in Week 1 action.<\/p>\n
\u201cI always wanted to play football and that was my focus. I had set the goal of trying to make it to the CFL, NFL, just the highest level possible.\u201d<\/p>\n
Not wanting to lose the opportunity to play U Sports, Williams started attending classes and worked four jobs in the off-season to be able to afford his schooling.<\/p>\n
\u201cSometimes I\u2019d be up for two or three days straight,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019d try to sleep on my breaks or whenever I could.\u201d<\/p>\n
He worked nights at a plastics company before going straight to Sobeys to work in the bakery until 2:30 p.m. After being on the clock for roughly 14 hours, he\u2019d train for football before heading home in the evening to, hopefully, sleep for a bit before doing it all over again. He also had a part-time job at Visions Electronics and worked security on weekends.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was excessive, but I always find myself being a workaholic,\u201d said Williams.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd at the end of the day, I was like \u2018This is on me.\u2019 I could\u2019ve told some people or reached out for help, but I wanted to handle it on my own because I knew I put myself in that situation.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Bisons are fortunate he made the effort to stick around. In 2018, Williams was recognized as a Canada West all-star after helping the Herd finish second in the conference in rushing while averaging a whopping 467.3 yards of total offence.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn my entire career, Zack is one of my favourite players in terms of how much I respect him,\u201d said former Bisons head coach Brian Dobie.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was actually unbelievable what he endured to keep grinding and push forward. He trained non-stop, practised and played relentlessly, and worked various jobs in what little spare time he had just to keep afloat. He truly was amazing and I\u2019m so proud of that kid.\u201d<\/p>\n
But that same year brought an even bigger setback. His father, Owen, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer.<\/p>\n
Williams was selected in the third round, 28th overall, by the Stampeders in the 2019 CFL Draft. Two months later, Owen passed away.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy goal was to try and play a game that he could see. By the time his sickness came, he wasn\u2019t at the point where he could watch,\u201d said Williams.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was always my No. 1 supporter. He was always at all the games. We had long conversations after every game \u2014 whatever sport it was, hockey, football, it didn\u2019t matter. He would always be like my coach, but also my supporter, motivator, and would always challenge me and push me to the edge. Nothing too far, just to always be better, be the best version of myself, and to believe in myself, too.\u201d<\/p>\n
The belief his father instilled in him is what got him to where he is today.<\/p>\n
Williams is coming off a career year where he started all 18 games at left guard, was named a West Division all-star and earned Calgary\u2019s nomination for the league\u2019s Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman award.<\/p>\n
The 29-year-old signed a two-year extension in April to remain in Calgary. He now lives there while still making time to return to Winnipeg, and plans to take a firefighter course in the off-season to prepare for life after football.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s been mental challenges, and obviously, physical challenges in the game and stuff, but it\u2019s about how you respond, how you react, and just trying to always find a way,\u201d said Williams.<\/p>\n
\n\t\tWinnipeg Free Press | Newsletter\n\t<\/p>\n
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\u201cI always believed in myself and my abilities. Whether I was at work, or whether I was at a workout, I put 100 per cent effort into it and just tried to focus on one day at a time.\u201d<\/p>\n
His head coach and general manager, Dave Dickenson, thinks he has only scratched the surface.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want him to take another step,\u201d said Dickenson.<\/p>\n
\u201cListen, I think our offensive line is pretty good, and I think Zack\u2019s our leader. I want him to become a little more vocal. And I truly believe he\u2019s a (CFL) all-star in our league. I do. It just hasn\u2019t happened for him. You haven\u2019t seen him up for a lot of awards. I believe in him, and I want him to make sure he shows why he\u2019s that type of player and that type of leader.\u201d<\/p>\n
winnipegfreepress.com\/taylorallen<\/p>\n
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Taylor Allen Taylor Allen is a sports reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. Taylor was the Vince Leah intern in the Free Press newsroom twice while earning his joint communications degree\/diploma at the University of Winnipeg and Red River College Polytechnic. He signed on full-time in 2019 and mainly covers the Blue Bombers, curling, and basketball. Read more about Taylor<\/a>.<\/p>\n Every piece of reporting Taylor produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print \u2014 part of the Free Press\u2018s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press\u2019s history and mandate<\/a>, and learn how our newsroom operates<\/a>.<\/p>\n
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