New Orleans Saints tight finish Taysom Hill runs by means of drills on the crew’s minicamp in Metairie, La., Thursday, June 15, 2023. The previous BYU standout shall be reunited along with his fellow backfield mate Jamaal Williams when the Saints open the 2023 season. Gerald Herbert, Related Press
BYU quarterback Taysom Hill palms off to operating again Jamaal Williams throughout a recreation at LaVell Edwards Stadium on Saturday, November 16, 2013. The previous school teammates are teaming up once more, this time in New Orleans. Matt Gade, Deseret Information
New Orleans Saints operating again Jamaal Williams runs by means of drills throughout observe in Metairie, La., Tuesday, Might 30, 2023. Gerald Herbert, Related Press
Throughout their years at BYU collectively, starting in 2012, quarterback Taysom Hill and operating again Jamaal Williams offered the Cougars with a harmful and prolific one-two punch.
They’re eternally linked in BYU lore.
Now, they’re again collectively in New Orleans. Hill has been with the Saints since 2017 and throughout the offseason, Williams signed with New Orleans.
Hill loves that he’s teammates with Williams once more.
“It’s a lot enjoyable,” Hill informed the Deseret Information. “I informed the native media in New Orleans the identical factor. It truly is how I really feel.”
Within the spring, Williams talked about being again with Hill.
“Taysom, I can’t wait to mess with him. It’s been too lengthy now,” he mentioned throughout his introductory press convention. “I can’t wait to mess with him. Don’t fear, you’ll see it.”
Hill is BYU’s profession chief in quarterback dashing yards, and No. 6 total in dashing yards with 2,815. He earned 23 wins as a starter and accounted for 75 touchdowns, good for No. 5 all time at BYU.
Williams is BYU’s profession chief in dashing yards (3,901), dashing makes an attempt (726) and 100-yard video games (16). He set this system document for single-game dashing yards (286); he’s No. 3 in profession dashing touchdowns (35); and No. 5 in all-purpose yards (4,468).
Alongside the way in which, they grew to become two of the most well-liked athletes at school historical past.
After the conclusion of their respective school careers, in 2017, Williams was chosen within the fourth spherical of the NFL draft by the Inexperienced Bay Packers, whereas Hill signed as an undrafted free agent with the Packers.
So, for a quick time, they had been professional teammates. Hill accomplished 14 of 20 passes and threw for 2 touchdowns and ran for an additional throughout three preseason video games with Inexperienced Bay earlier than being launched throughout the Packers’ last roster cut-down.
However Hill signed with New Orleans, the place he has thrived ever since as a “Swiss Military knife,” taking part in a number of positions.
Williams, in the meantime, performed 4 seasons for the Packers, dashing for 1,985 yards and 10 touchdowns earlier than signing with Detroit in 2021. Final season, Williams loved a profession yr, operating for 1,066 yards and 17 TDs.
BYU quarterback Taysom Hill palms off to operating again Jamaal Williams throughout a recreation at LaVell Edwards Stadium on Saturday, November 16, 2013. The previous school teammates are teaming up once more, this time in New Orleans.
Matt Gade, Deseret Information
Then throughout the offseason, Williams landed in New Orleans. Now, greater than 10 years after the pair joined BYU’s program as freshmen, Hill and Williams are collectively once more.
And for them, it feels so good.
It’s solely a matter of time earlier than Hill and Williams are featured in the identical backfield.
Little question, there’s a familiarity and a kinship between them.
“Jamaal is a type of guys that, I adopted his profession all through the NFL, however we haven’t been teammates for six years,” Hill mentioned. “I used to be there for minicamp and I noticed him a month in the past. And it was as if we had been teammates for the final six years.
“My favourite factor about being Jamaal’s teammate is the power and the emotion that he performs with. He all the time provides to the power on the sphere in a constructive manner. That’s his crowning high quality. He provides power in every single place he goes.”
When the pair had been at BYU, they had been so aware of one another that BYUtv challenged them to some rounds of “Household Feud” and the “Newlywed Recreation.” Hill known as Williams “Child J” and Williams referred to Hill as “Grandpa.”
Williams is new in New Orleans. Matt Rhea, the Saints’ director of sports activities science, has loved working with him.
“He’s as marketed. Plenty of constructive power, actually enjoyable to work with. Neither of us is morning individuals. He provides me a tough time as a result of I’m much more ornery than him typically within the morning,” he mentioned. “As soon as we get working, it’s numerous enjoyable. He’s been actually, actually good.
“I don’t suppose he missed a single day of coaching within the offseason. He’s very dedicated to this. He's such an excellent persona, and in a anxious, high-pressure enterprise. Guys like that, which are all the time smiling, or a minimum of will get there, they’re fairly helpful to have,” he continued. “I used to be actually glad after we signed him. We’ve had a superb preliminary coaching cycle. I’m hoping for the very best for him.”
The Saints produce other native connections — former Utah linebacker Nephi Sewell and former Weber State star Rashid Shaheed. Rhea added that he enjoys interacting with them as effectively.
This fall, New Orleans’ offense may give off a particular BYU vibe because of Hill and Williams, who're teammates as soon as once more.
New Orleans Saints operating again Jamaal Williams runs by means of drills throughout observe in Metairie, La., Tuesday, Might 30, 2023.
Gerald Herbert, Related Press