Alabama Football: 10 Interesting Things About the Awesome Aussie, Jesse Williams

Larry Burton (Syndicated Writer) There's a lot of things that Alabama fans will have to get used to in new player Jesse Williams and a lot of adjustments he still has to make in getting used to the things here in Alabama.

1. Jesse Williams doesn't like barbecue. How can you not love barbecue? Is calling Dreamland's ribs, "Not that big a deal," sacrilegious?

Not if your Williams who just hasn't developed a taste for Southern cooking yet, but he does admit, it's growing on him.

2. Williams loves the weight room. For most players it's simply something they have to do as a means to an end, but Williams actually loves to work out there and it shows.

William Vlachos was the previous "freak of nature" in the weight room. He's smaller than most players on the team and can outwork almost everyone on the team, but not Williams. Vlachos has given Jesse a slap on the back and some good words for his efforts.

3. Williams is not a slave to fashion. He showed up to pro day in bare feet and all winter long attended classes in cargo shorts, flip flops and a tee shirts. He dresses for comfort.

It will be interesting to see him in "traveling clothes" this year and many are wondering if he even knows how to put on a tie and tie it.

4. Tattoos? Which one? Williams is covered in them. Everything from pictures to writings to symbols. Each has a story and significance to Jesse and he's not shy about explaining them to you if you ask.

5. He's a different sort of cat right down to the haircut. It's easy to spot Williams and not just because he's 6'4'' and covered in tattoos, but the Mohawk he sports sort of stands out too.

Other players have noticed and liked the radical look and some are now sporting "hawks" of their own. Maybe Williams is just a trend setter.

6. Comparisons to Mt. Cody? Williams says there's nothing physically he sees to compare with, but he hopes to accomplish some of the same things and more with similar results.

"Players who knew him say I'm faster and stronger, but he had great instincts and that's what I'm working on now," Jesse said of the comparisons.

7. He wants to play multiple positions. He'll play nose tackle, he'll play tackle if they go to a 4-3 or he'd be happy at defensive end. Just put him anywhere where he can draw a bead on a quarterback or running back and he's happy.

This week the coaches have been experimenting with him at end.

8. Biggest adjustment so far? There's just so many fans! Williams said he wasn't used to such "fame" anywhere else he's been, but here, he can go nowhere without people recognizing him already and wanting to meet him.

"I'm not sure how I'll feel the first time I run into a stadium with over 100,000 people in it. That's just wild!" he said about the fanbase here at Alabama.

9. He's a good student. His parents stressed good grades and that's been something he's proud to have kept up. He's said an education is something he intends on completing no matter if the NFL comes calling as expected.

10. Though he's a big boy, he's still a little homesick. Alabama's about as far from Australia as Williams has ever been and he sort of misses everything he is used to.

But he is a "techno geek" of sorts and keeps up with family and friends with "Skype" that allows him to see and hear people down under and of course there's always email, telephoning and text messaging.