Ja’Dyn Williams Receives Touchdown Club’s Hardnose Award

At the end of each season the Touchdown Club honors one of the players with the “Bob Commings Memorial Hardnose Award.”  That player would have received the most votes from among weekly tallies taken by the club members.  Past honorees include John Mulbach (Ohio State), David Whitfield (Ohio State), Chris Spielman (Ohio State), Shawn Crable (Michigan), Brian Gamble (Illinois/Ashland) and Dorian Pringle (Bowling Green).

Bob Commings was a very successful coach for the Tigers from 1969 to 1973, compiling a record of 43-6-2, including Massillon’s last state poll championship (1970) and a qualification for Ohio’s first ever state playoffs (1972). Commings departed following the 1973 season to become head coach of the University of Iowa and later coached at GlenOak High School, for whom their field was later named.

This year’s Hardnose Award winner is Ja’Dyn Williams, the outstanding linebacker who led his team to a 9-4 record and a spot in the playoff regional finals.

Williams was a 3-year starter for the Tigers and reached his pinnacle during his senior year both on and off the field.  He is everything a coach would want in a linebacker.  He has good size at 6′-2″, 205 lbs. and he plays the game right, with a high level of speed and  physicality.  He also possesses the ability anticipate the play and respond quickly toward it.  In game action he was tops in several statistical defensive categories, while recording the following numbers:

• 59 solo tackles (1st) and 49 assists (1st) for 108 total tackles (1st)
• 12.5 tackles-for-loss (1st) for 61 lost yards (1st)
• 5.5 quarterback sacks (1st) for 41 lost yards (1st)
• 1 pass interception, 2 pass breakups
• 5 recovered fumbles (1st) and 1 forced fumble
• 1 blocked kick (1st)

Against Cleveland Glenville he started the season with a bang, with 17 total tackles, including 9 solos.  He also had 15 against Rabun Gap, 12 against Canton GlenOak and 9 against Lakewood St. Edward.

While Williams was great on the field, Tiger Head Coach Nate Moore, when addressing the members of the Touchdown Club, talked at length about his attributes as a co-captain and leader of the team.  Moore predicted that Ja’Dyn, being the person he is both on and off the the field, is setting himself up to enjoy a long career in the sport.  Nate also felt that Ja’Dyn ranks right up there with the best linebackers to ever play for Massillon.  Come December 3rd Williams will sign a letter-of-intent to play football for the Indiana Hoosiers of the Big Ten Conference.

The guest speaker at the event was Bob Commings Jr., son of Bob Sr., for whom the award was named.  Bob also presented the trophy to Ja’Dyn.

Congratulations to Ja’Dyn Williams.