By Rick Figurin
pigskinpress.com

Alright friends, it's time to climb into our way-back machine to a magical year called 2006. You remember that year don't you? The Florida Gators were national champions, Boise State shocked the BCS world, and New Mexico State Wide-Out Chris Williams led the nation in receiving yards. Let me guess, you weren't aware of that third thing, huh? Are you sure? The guy only runs a 4.32 40-yard dash and has hands that would make the good people at Elmer's Glue sob like 9-year-old girls. Okay, okay, If you haven't heard of Chris Williams we'll cut you some slack, but here's our suggestion- try and catch a glimpse of this hidden gem as he looks to lead New Mexico State to their first bowl game in over 50 years.

Oh, and if you do happen to catch a glimpse of him, it will be more than opposing defensive backs have been able to do the last three years.

The senior standout took time-out to chat with pigskinpress.com about Coach Hal Mumme's Air-Raid Offense, the perception of Aggies' football, and that "other team" in Albuquerque.

Pigskinpress.com: How did you wind up in Las Cruces, didn’t you have teams like UCLA and Air Force that were also interested in you?

Chris Williams: “I got an offer from Air Force and Ohio University but I’m from the area; I’m from Rio Rancho. I knew Coach Mumme and his staff had been coming down here because I’d already been recruited by the former coach (Coach Samuel). They heard about me, and I guess they liked what they saw on the tape and they offered me as well. So, with coache's offense and the way they like to throw the ball and the guys that they had, it made it a perfect fit for me to come here.”

PP: In high school, you were an outstanding running back. Were you disappointed that you didn’t stay at that position?

CW: “Not really. I could see it coming. I’m not the biggest guy in the world, so being a running back wasn’t in my future. And I knew that, so I had already expected to be moved to receiver. But playing running back in high school helped me be a better receiver today.”

PP: You led the nation in receiving yards per game in 2006. Looking back on that, did you ever think that as a former running back you could pull that off?

CW: “It never crossed my mind. We were just playing and having fun that year. We were in all of our big games that year, and for some reason or another we just couldn’t pull out the W’s. When I go back and look at that season now, it was just a fun experience. It’s crazy how it all unfolded but I led the nation and that’s how it went down,”

PP: 2007 was shaping up to be a great season as well until your shoulder injury. Coach Mumme held you out of the spring game, any reason for fans to worry about your health?

CW: “No reason at all. The shoulder is 100% Actually I’ve gotten a lot stronger and put on about 10 pounds of muscle. So the shoulder is of no concern right now.

PP: Talk about Coach Mumme. With the lack of wins, how does he keep the team focused?

CW: “If you look at all of our games, the way we’ve lost them have been little-itty-bitty things that we didn’t do right. And that’s what we focus on. If we can do those small things right, that will translate into wins. That’s how (Coach Mumme) keeps our team motivated and keeps us going. We were arguably 4 or 5 plays away last year from going 8-5; instead we were 4-9.”

PP: You play in the high-powered air raid offense. How difficult was it to learn and why does it give defenses such a hard time?

CW: “It wasn’t difficult to learn the offense, it was more difficult to understand why we do the things we do. Once you get that down it makes it tough for a defense because no matter what they do, they’re going to be wrong. If they’re playing off, we’ll pick our underneath routes and keep moving the ball that way because we have a very accurate quarterback.  If they choose to come up and press us, and give us the deep-play downfield, then we’ll take that.”

PP: You’ve got a strong armed quarterback in Chase Holbrook. What is your relationship like on the field?

CW: “Great. We read each other well. It’s hard to explain. We don’t really need to talk about it; we just know what the other is thinking.”

PP: Is he the best QB you’ve experienced, even when comparing him to some of the great signal-callers that have come through the WAC?

CW: “Yes. You can’t take away from what Colt Brennan did on the field, but I think Chase is a better quarterback.”

PP: In recent years the Lobos have been the more consistent team in the state, going to bowls 5 of the last six years. How do you think people in New Mexico view the Aggies as a program?

CW: “It all depends on if you’ve come out and watched our games. If you’ve seen all of our games than you have a solid picture of how good this team really is. When you put that all together, and we still have a lot to work on, you will see that we are probably one of the better teams in the WAC. If you haven’t seen our games, you’re probably going to’ think UNM is a whole lot better and the power program here, which is arguable.”

PP: This year is your last chance to get a win over New Mexico, is that a game that is especially important to you?

CW: “Yes and No. Yes in the respect that we haven’t beat them and it would be a nice way to get a win. We’ve got them here at home, and we have to take care of those non-conference games because in the WAC every team is tough. No, because it’s just UNM. It’s not like playing Florida State or Miami.”

PP: At 5’ 8”, you’re not the tallest wide receiver in the country. How do you adjust if you’re matched up with a taller defender?

CW: “I don’t have to adjust too much. I’ve got pretty good vertical-I guess you could say. If the ball is high enough in the air, I’m confident I can go get it. I’ve learned to use my body more-so to shut defenders off rather than compete with them. I can adjust my body to where the ball is being thrown, so even with a defender on my back, I can still make the play.”

PP: You guys face UTEP on September, 20th. This is a big rivalry a lot of people don’t know about. Fill people in a little bit about this rivalry and how you guys feel about each other.

CW: “This is the most intense rivalry that this school has. We don’t like each other; we’re only 45 miles apart and this is a heated, heated, rivalry. And the players have been good. Both teams have done a good job of putting people in the NFL and we are two very good programs.”

PP: This year, a lot of publications think you can be bowl eligible. How important is it for you to see a bowl game before your college days are over?

CW: “It’s not so-much important for me, but important for our program. This program hasn’t been to a bowl for 50 plus years and for us to get this team there-which now I think we have the talent to do so- that would be a big step for the program.”

PP: Let’s fast forward to next year’s NFL draft. If I’m an NFL GM looking for a wide-out in the late rounds, why should I pick Chris Williams over the other guy?

CW: “I don’t want to toot my own horn too much, but I’ve got versatility. I can help you in the return game, and I will do whatever I can to help the team win. If that means playing special teams or going over the middle to make the play I’ll do it. Just see if I can play! Don’t worry about the size and all that other stuff, just look and see if I can play. If you think I can, I think you should take me.”


New Mexico State kicks off their season Sept. 4th against Nicholls State.