CatsIllustrated.com's in-depth coverage of JUCO defensive back Domonique Williams' commitment continues, here with unique insight from a man who knows Williams especially well, both on and off the field.
Chris Treece has served as Williams' trainer in recent years. The former Tennessee football player is is the CEO of The Treece Advantage Football Training Academy.
CatsIllustrated.com spoke with Treece before Kentucky's camp on the day Williams was in Lexington, and again on Thursday, before Williams announced his commitment via Twitter.
CATSILLUSTRATED.COM: Can you explain your relationship with Williams and the history the two of you have together?
Chris Treece: With Dom, I started working with him two years ago. That was when I first got in and started training him and he was 170 pounds. Now he's 187. That was a lot of work. Two hours in the weight room every day, two hours on the field every day. Basically built him like that, but it was every day for two years.
CATSILLUSTRATED.COM: What is it about Williams as a defensive back that you think Kentucky became so enamored with?
Treece: He's a very, very versatile corner. He's got great hips and great feet. Plus, he's just got that mentality, if something happens on a play he forgets about it pretty quickly. Like all good DB's, you have to have a very short memory and he has that. He's also got the "it" factor you can't teach. Just a very special player.
CATSILLUSTRATED.COM: You mentioned he gained all that weight and when we saw him he looked really physical. How physical is he as a DB?
Treece: He's an extremely physical player and he's that kind of guy who always wants to be on the best player, the best receiver on the field. He's asked for that duty since I've known him, from when he was at Fulton High School (in Knoxville, Tenn.) to when he was at Highland Community College.
CATSILLUSTRATED.COM: He's talked to us about it a couple of times, but from your perspective, what do you think about the job Kentucky did recruiting him and hosting him when he visited?
Treece: Coach (Mark) Stoops and that coaching staff, they were amazing. It truly does have a family-type feel and atmosphere there. I played football at Tennessee and they made me feel welcome at Kentucky. It's just a great environment, it's an up-and-coming program, all the players have bought in and they're taking their facilities to the next level.
CATSILLUSTRATED.COM: Knowing him for as long as you have, back when he was a 170-pound high school corner committed to EKU, have you been surprised at how much he's grown and developed or did you see it there all along?
Treece: I wasn't surprised. I thought he could stand to gain more weight but I always thought he had an SEC mentality. It was just a matter of some team giving him the right fit and the right opportunity. Kentucky is that right opportunity so, to me, Kentucky's a great fit for him.
