Kopfgelt » Steven Stamkos already out long-term, and veteran R

When Jonah Williams was about 12, he began building a weight room in his parents basement in suburban Atlanta.The tall preteen was all elbows and kneecaps back then. He thought he was too skinny, and rather than wait for nature to run its course, he decided to escalate the process.Katherine, his mother, said he would eat and eat and eat. And before long, her quiet, introspective son had morphed into someone different. He was born big -- just shy of 11 pounds and 22 inches long -- but suddenly he was growing in leaps and bounds into the 6-foot-5, 290-pound behemoth hed become.Hed always had an intensity about him, but Katherine started to sense an aggression in him when he played sports. Seeing him defend the net as a fullback in soccer, guard the rim as a center in basketball or shield the quarterback at offensive tackle in football, she began to put two and two together.Put him on [the] athletic field and it comes out: the protection, she said.Alabama fans have seen it during every one of the Crimson Tides 13 games this season: Williams protecting fellow freshman Jalen Hurts. Hurts has gotten all the acclaim as a true freshman QB starting on the No. 1-ranked team in college football, but Williams has been arguably the more consistent player. It feels as if every week the right tackle has been part of the staffs players of the week. Hes already a member of the SEC All-Freshman Team and is a mortal lock to become a consensus freshman All-American.But neither Williams, his mother nor his former high school coach are shocked that he has been able to have this much success so soon. When asked whether they were even a little bit surprised, their response inevitably began with, No, but ...If Jonah sets a goal, Katherine said, its hard to deter him from that.Said Williams: Ive always wanted to compete and just work to earn everything.That competitiveness, Katherine said, is innate. But it was also nurtured by a mother who played tennis and a father who swam and played offensive line in high school. She went to school at Auburn and he at Georgia, so college football has always been a part of the familys life.A job opportunity led the family to move from Atlanta to California after Williams freshman year of high school, and he settled in at Folsom High after a semester at another local high school.When Folsom football coach Kris Richardson first laid eyes on Williams, he was stunned.You could see right away he had the physical tools: quick feet, an explosive lower body, a freak in the weight room, Richardson said. But he was really raw and didnt have a lot of technique. ... His idea of football was to grab and kick and throw people to the ground. Im like, Jonah, for one, these are your own teammates. Lets not throw our own guys to the ground all the time. And two, when you throw kids thats not really blocking.Even if he didnt want to become a technician, Richardson said Williams would have been fine living off his natural ability. In fact, before his first game on varsity, Cal was so impressed that it offered him a scholarship on the spot.But Williams did want to learn the finer points of playing the position. By Saturday morning, hed already be done watching the game tape from the night before and Richardson would wake to a dozen or so text messages from his star left tackle.On play 22, I took my step wrong, Williams would write, according to Richardson. On play 25, my hands werent inside.Richardson would reply, and Williams would inevitably be in the weight room working out. Richardson held him back as best he could, but he still benched more than 500 pounds and squatted more than 600.Very serious. Very mature, Richardson said of Williams. His work ethic is off the charts. Thats just who he is as a person.During Williams junior season, he would protect the blindside of future Washington quarterback Jake Browning. Folsom won the state title that year and Williams wound up with scholarship offers from every school that saw him play, Richardson said.If you want to entertain yourself, pull up his high school highlight tape, Richardson said. He was killing kids. It was not fair.He even played defensive line on occasion and dominated there, too.Hes going to go down as one of Sacramentos all-time greatest, said Richardson, who has been head coach at Folsom for 12 years and was an assistant there for nearly a decade before that.But the best thing about Williams, Richardson said, was how he handled the recruiting process. He had one tweet about it, and it was the one where he announced his commitment to Alabama. And before he sent that out, he called every head coach who offered him a scholarship to personally relay his decision.Williams graduated early and enrolled at Alabama in January.I came in and found a place that suits me and my personality, my work ethic, Williams said.In a bit of foreshadowing, he said that, I wouldnt recommend someone come here if theyre not willing to work hard.If there was one thing players noticed about Williams right away, it was his attitude in the weight room. He didnt chafe at the shrill whistle of strength coach Scott Cochran at 6:30 a.m. Instead, he seemed to love it.He lives in there, said veteran guard Ross Pierschbacher, and it shows.Williams and Pierschabacher would become workout buddies as well as friends off the field.Pierschabacher said that hell try to watch other college football games as a fan and inevitably Williams will spoil it, yapping in his ear about, Oh, they ran this blitz and that stunt and they should have done this.Its like watching film next to [offensive line coach Brent Key], Pierschabacher said. I just want to relax a little bit.He added: I just think thats how hes built and thats whats making him so successful; hes just got that great football mind.Senior defensive tackle Jonathan Allen marvels at Williams technique and said that he plays beyond his age.Junior defensive end DaShawn Hand said there are times when he forgets that hes a freshman, too.That dude is going to be a monster, Hand said. Just wait. Youll see.According to Pro Football Focus, Williams graded higher than Alabamas junior left tackle?Cam Robinson, a player many expect to be taken in the first round of next years draftThe future finance major isnt done yet. On Dec. 31, Williams will introduce himself to an even larger audience when No. 1-ranked Alabama plays in the College Football Playoff semifinal game at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl in Atlanta (3 p.m. ET, ESPN).The opponent: No. 4 Washington and Williams former teammate, Browning.Theyre good friends, Katherine said. Hes excited about it. Hes proud of Jake and his accomplishments, but at the same time this is going to be fun. This is the Pac-12 versus the SEC.Katherine said she was thankful that since Williams and Browning both play offense, there wont be any physical altercation between the friends. Not that Williams wouldnt be ready.When Katherine spoke for this story, Alabama had just ended its fall semester and players were able to go home before practice started back up. And where was Williams on his day off? At the local recreation center lifting weights.When he got home, Katherine said that her son, an avid reader, would start his next book: Meditations by Marcus Aurelius.Its heady stuff for a freshman in college, but Williams isnt your typical freshman.Hes like a 28-year-old man and not an 18-year-old kid, Richardson said. China Shoes Free Shipping . The team said Saturday that Lopez was hurt during its 121-120 overtime loss at Philadelphia on Friday. The Nets said they would issue another update next week after consultation with their doctors. China Shoes Nike . What general manager Dave Nonis called "short and productive" negotiations ended with Kessel signing a US$64-million, eight-year contract on Tuesday. https://www.chinashoesshop.com/ . The Browns coaching search remains incomplete. China Shoes Jordans . -- The Magic have their first victory of the new year. Cheap Shoes From China . Note: The Calgary Flames announced Tuesday that Sean Monahan would not be made available to Canadas World Junior team. Every week, well mine the waiver wire for lesser-owned assets to help your squad, whether you favor dynasty or the re-draft format -- and well also toss in some tips for DFS players out there. Categorized by position, the players are ranked in descending order by ownership percentage in ESPN leagues.Well also include some former go-to fantasy assets who may be overvalued -- in the short or long term -- for one reason or another.ForwardsTroy Brouwer, RW, Calgary FlamesOwnership percentage: 18.2Additionally precious in leagues that put a premium on scoring with the man advantage, Brouwer is on a special teams tear, with six power-play points this December; that includes two goals and two assists with the extra skater in his past three games. Additional points at even strength are also reasonably within reach, considering the 31-year-old is competing alongside dynamic center Sean Monahan.Anders Lee, C/LW, New York IslandersOwnership percentage: 16.7Since just about every Islanders forward appears to be earning a go on the left side of John Tavares and Josh Bailey, Lee is more than deserving of his fair shot. Couple that role with Lees gig on the top power-play unit, and youve got yourself an inflated fantasy asset, as indicated by last games output of a goal and five shots. Just be prepared to relinquish him if and when he loses his plum assignment.Brandon Sutter, C/RW, Vancouver CanucksOwnership percentage: 12.4Showing a proclivity for scoring in fits and bursts, Sutter garners attention this week for his recent three-game goal streak. Its worth checking to see if you play in one of the leagues where hes available, and also consider investing in the 27-year-old in DFS while the streak persists.Mark Letestu, C, Edmonton OilersOwnership percentage: 5.1As a top power-play contributor, the bottom-six center has eight points in 10 games this December, including three goals and one assist with the extra skater. This uncharacteristic warm streak from the 31-year-old is temporarily worth exploiting in deeper, seasonal leagues, as well as DFS tournaments.Phillip Danault, C/LW, Montreal CanadiensOwnership percentage: 1.7The latest shuffling in Montreal sees Phillip Danault bumped to center the top line with Max Pacioretty and Alexander Radulov. After notching an assist (and firing three shots) from that position Saturday, the 23-year-old former first-round draft selection (No. 26, 2011) is tapped to remain alongside the clubs two top wingers versus the Anaheim Ducks Tuesday.Miles Wood, LW, New Jersey DevilsOwnership percentage: 0.1Those not familiar with young Mr. Wood might like to learn hes skating with Adam Henrique on an even-strength line, and the secondary power-play unit with Travis Zajac. The 21-year-old has two goals and 11 shots in his most recent three games. Consider the AHL call-up a provisional roster Band-Aid in deeper leagues, or an ultra-inexpensive DFS asset.DefensemenJake Gardiner, Toronto Maple LeafsOwnership percentage: 26.8After more than a quarter seasons warmup, Gardiner has finally found his offenssive stride in 2016-17.dddddddddddd While the collection of five points in six recent games is partially telling, watching the 26-year-old only provides additional promise. He looks good out there; confident in moving and rifling the puck on net. His shot from the point on the power play has been especially impressive (and accurate) of late.Derrick Pouliot, Pittsburgh PenguinsOwnership percentage: 0.5Justin Schultz undeniably inherits the role of top fantasy blueliner for the Penguins while Kris Letang and Trevor Daley convalesce off ice, but theres a defensive prospect that also merits some attention from profoundly invested fantasy owners. Recently promoted from the minors, Pouliot should continue to see top-four and secondary power-play minutes for the foreseeable future. While theres no cause yet to jump all over the former first-rounder (No. 8, 2012) we suggest you keep a casual eye on his progress.Brad Hunt, St. Louis BluesOwnership percentage: 0.0The seasoned AHLer reportedly returns to the Blues lineup Tuesday versus the Dallas Stars in place of Carl Gunnarsson. We care in fantasy because the 28-year-old -- whos been on fire with the Chicago Wolves this season -- has earned a point in each of his four NHL games to date, including a couple with the extra skater.GoaltendersAntti Niemi, Dallas StarsOwnership percentage: 37.6Niemi is on a roll, stopping all but four of 97 shots in three straight tremendous appearances (two of which were victories). Even those wary of enlisting a Dallas netminder as fantasy asset might be convinced to give Niemi a go under current circumstances. But be ready with an alternative at the first signs of trouble.Lowered expectationsNikita Kucherov, RW, Tampa Bay LightningOwnership percentage: 99.0The Lightning are beyond a little banged-up this holiday season. With Steven Stamkos already out long-term, and veteran Ryan Callahan inactive since late November, coach Jon Cooper must now manage without two more prominent forwards. While Ondrej Palat wore a non-contact sweater ahead of Tuesdays tilt versus the Red Wings, Kucherov (lower-body injury) remains out, having skipped the skate altogether. As such, Brian Boyle is your top fantasy dark-horse option in the near term, playing alongside Tyler Johnson and Jonathan Drouin.Rick Nash, LW/RW, New York RangersOwnership percentage: 85.3Larry Brooks of the New York Post reports Nash will likely be sidelined for at least three games after pulling his groin against the Devils on Sunday. Not the section injured just recently, but the other side. Look for J.T. Miller or Michael Grabner to reclaim a top-six role alongside Kevin Hayes during Nashs absence.Mike Green, D, Detroit Red WingsOwnership percentage: 84.0Greens healthy run this season has come to an end. Nursing some variety of undisclosed injury, the Red Wings top offensive defenseman is loosely expected to sit out this week, at minimum. Shelve him for now. ' ' '