Major always showing up for duty

Major Williams was far from a lock to make the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

The rookie corner was one of many fresh faces brought in by the club during training camp to compete for an opening in the secondary.

But even though he was facing an uphill climb, Williams walked up to star halfback Evan Holm on Day 1 and told the veteran he was looking forward to being on the field with him this season.

“He just had a confidence about what he was going to come in and do,” recalled Holm after Tuesday’s practice. “And now he’s out there working with us.”

Williams isn’t just working — he’s excelling.

He leads the league in pass knockdowns with eight, and according to Pro Football Focus, nearly half of the balls thrown in his direction have resulted in incompletions.

Williams joined the Bombers’ practice roster last October but he didn’t see any game action down the stretch. The 24-year-old from Fort Myers, Fla., used his winter wisely, spending countless hours studying the Canadian game to ensure he was ready for his audition in the spring.

It certainly paid off.

He’s been one of the few bright spots on an inconsistent Bombers team that is 5-5 heading into Friday’s home date with the Montreal Alouettes (9-1).

“I know I did’t make the team yet, but I was just visualizing where I could be and where I fit,” said Williams on his conversation with Holm.

“To be the one, you have to do the things that people don’t want to do and that’s what will get you recognized. I’m hungry for myself and my family. My mom is a business owner, her hair salon business went down in 2020 during COVID. She ran her own business for 23 (years) and then I watched her get up and get a new occupation and start her whole life over at the age of 50, so there were no excuses for me no matter what situation I was in.

“And being a Blue Bomber, this organization is where you want to be so I just wanted to do my best and have no regrets,” he added.

With the Bombers moving on from Demerio Houston, Jamal Parker Jr. and Terrell Bonds in the off-season, the team desperately needed to uncover a hidden gem in the secondary. For returner Trey Vaval, it was no surprise that Williams ended up being that guy.

He saw promise in him when Williams first arrived and — now that the two are roommates — Vaval has been impressed by his approach away from the facility.

“We all work hard, and he obviously works his ass off football wise, but when we’re at home and away from the game, he knows how to keep his mind level-headed. I’d say that’s a big key thing that he can do. It’s hard for a lot of people to do that because once you’re here, and playing professional sports, you kind of stress out,” said Vaval.

“But he’s always on FaceTime with his family and friends back at home and they help him out a lot. Like he’s on FaceTime damn near 24/7. And when we’re away from this, he’s able to disconnect, be happy, and enjoy his life. That’s a good thing for an athlete to have.”

Williams was a redshirt freshman at the University of Virginia before taking the JUCO route and eventually landing at Division II Carson-Newman in Tennessee — just a 45-minute drive from Tusculum University, where Buffalo Bills cornerback Dee Alford, who won the 2021 Grey Cup with the Bombers, once starred.

“Tusculum is our rival. I don’t know him, but I’ve heard his story — it was preached to us. We kind of share a similar path a little bit,” said Williams, who suited up for the Kansas City Chiefs during the 2025 pre-season before heading up north.

“I worked out with some of the same people that he worked out with. I definitely had people say to me, ‘Hey, you should look into Dee Alford’s story.’ And I do know Qwan’tez Stiggers who went from Toronto to the New York Jets. So, I’ve met guys that have been here, dominated here, and came up. I did my research, I’ve been in the right rooms and I think that’s what’s paying off for me right now.”

With the help of that research, Williams knows he’s in for a big test this week against Montreal and its overpowering attack, led by quarterback Davis Alexander and receiver Tyson Philpot.

The matchup has been on Williams’ mind ever since the Bombers lost last year’s Eastern semifinal in Montreal.

“This is the game I’ve been looking forward to the most,” he said. “I know I’m on the menu, and they’re on my menu so it’s going to be a great one to watch. I think it’s going to be electric. I’ve got some stuff I gotta accomplish this game and I’m sure they do, too. I’m just ready to get out there.

“I think it’s going to be my best one.”

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