360 Degrees of Duke Williams

"Sometimes I couldn't eat because of the fact I was hurt, the fact I couldn't play something I loved my whole life," former Auburn wide receiver D'haquille "Duke" Williams says. "To have it taken away like that…can't let that happen again. Can't ever take that for granted no more."

Heading into the 2015 college football season, Williams seemed to be on top of the world, having established his reputation as one of the top-rated WR prospects in college football. (In August 2015, Bleacher Report draft analyst Matt Miller ranked Williams No. 3 in the WR draft class.)

But over the course of 10 months, Williams was disciplined three times by Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn, including his suspension from the 2015 Outback Bowl. The final straw came one night in October when Williams found himself in an altercation at an off-campus bar, which led to his dismissal from the Auburn football program. The incident significantly affected his draft stock.

In a candid and exclusive interview with Bleacher Report Studios, Williams addresses all of his past issues.

"I got growing up to do," Williams explains. "But that picture, it's painted already. I'm learning from it, I'm growing from it. Nothing I can do but just be a man about it, own up to all the mistakes I made. And that's what I'm doing."

Watch Williams tell his story in the video above.

Note: Auburn and head coach Gus Malzahn declined Bleacher Report Studios' request for an interview. Supplementary footage via mainevent615 on YouTube.