Iowa State football: Hank Poteat on Jontez Williams’ leadership role
Iowa State football’s cornerbacks coach Hank Poteat opened up about how Jontez Williams is embracing a leadership role with the Cyclones.
AMES − As reporters flocked to speak to Jontez Williams after Iowa State football’s spring practice on Wednesday, the cornerback comfortably stood tall and smiled, like he’s gotten used to it.
Last year, Williams enjoyed a breakout season with the Cyclones. Taking on a much bigger role in the secondary as a redshirt sophomore, he emerged as a standout and earned All-Big 12 second-team honors.
Unsurprisingly, increased fanfare came his way during the season. He is a fierce competitor and a beloved teammate, but he was modest and humble on the post-game microphone and, at times, seemingly shy when speaking to the media.
That humility and big-play ability still remain. But now, as one of the veteran players at the cornerback position, he’s finding his voice and embracing a leadership role within the team.
“I feel like I’m a little bit of both (vocal and a leader by example),” Williams said. “Just off of my play and the things I’ve done. Then, I kind of tell those guys and try to get them another perspective of how to look at things differently, like things outside of football and things in football.
“… I feel even more confident just being back, having that leadership and just being here in this program for a minute. That’s given me a lot of confidence.”
Iowa State football: Cyclones’ Jontez Williams on growing as a leader
Iowa State football cornerback Jontez Williams often lets his play speak for itself, but he’s growing as a leader too.
Last season, he was counted on to step up following the departure of All-American and Baltimore Ravens draftee T.J. Tampa. Now, Williams is expected to take an even bigger role after losing multi-year starters Myles Purchase and Darien Porter to graduation.
After playing alongside those former teammates and observing their leadership styles, Williams is ready to put his flair as one of the players at the forefront of the Cyclones’ defense.
“I wouldn’t say he’s shy,” said Iowa State cornerbacks coach Hank Poteat. “When he speaks, people listen. In small settings, within his group, when he feels like he trusts people and when he feels like he has the room to be able to speak and he knows people are going to listen − he’s going to speak up. He’s done a great job. Now, you’ll see him even riling the defense up.”
Williams played a key part in helping the Cyclones finish with an FBS-best 165.6 passing yards per game allowed last season. The Iowa State defense also finished in the top 25 nationally for turnover margin at plus-9.
He had four interceptions last season, all of which came in consecutive weeks. Two of those picks were during crucial moments, one to help the Cyclones hang onto a second-half lead before eventually beating Baylor on Oct. 5 and then the game-sealing interception against UCF on Oct. 19. He also tallied 46 total tackles in his first full season as a starter.
“Jontez was already set up to be put in this position and just continue to have conversations with him, let him know like, ‘Hey, you can speak up too, because you earned the right to and people are going to listen,'” Poteat said, recalling instances last year where younger teammates looked up to him. “As you continue to put him in those situations, he continues to get confident to be able to vocal.”
Iowa State football: Coach Hank Poteat on goals for Jontez Williams
Iowa State football’s cornerbacks coach Hank Poteat shared his offseason goals for Jontez Williams.
In addition to losing Purchase and Porter, the Cyclones also graduated multi-year starters and valued leaders Beau Freyler and Malik Verdon.
It’s going to be a much younger secondary in 2025, but the Cyclones bring back standout senior safety Jeremiah Cooper, as well as Ta’Shawn James and Jamison Patton, who both saw solid playing time in the rotation last season.
“Just telling those guys to continue to grow and just keep getting better,” Williams said of his advice to his younger teammates. “Just making sure that it’s not about the results; it’s about the process and knowing the journey. Not get complacent during the success and just keep grinding through anything and try to be your best each and every day.”
Williams has been doing his part to try and level up his game, too.
Week 1 is more than four months away, with the season set to kickoff on Aug. 23 against rival Kansas State in Ireland.
Until then, his goals for improvement during the offseason are to work on his tackling, be more physical to blow up blocks, and evolve to become an even bigger ballhawk.
After the first-ever 11-win season in Iowa State history, all of the Cyclones are trying to build off of their individual and team-wide successes.
“I’m just trying to make sure I’m not letting the standard lack or fall,” Williams said. “Just trying to uphold the standard and push these guys.”
Eugene Rapay covers Iowa State athletics for the Des Moines Register. Contact Eugene at erapay@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @erapay5.
