BEVERLY — As the Endicott College football team gears up for another season a pair of locals are looking to make an impact for the Gulls. After spending last year adjusting to a new program, Saugus native Cam Williamson heads into 2019 with some familiarity.
“It helps because you already know most of the plays well coming in,” Williamson, a defensive lineman, said. “It’s not all new content that you have to learn, you get to come and it’s just a refresher.
“You know what’s going to happen and you know what to expect coming into the season,” Williamson said. “There’s less questions and you just know how to get it done.”
Things are a bit different for freshman Jeremy Gillis, who graduated from Marblehead High School in 2014 and will join the Gulls after serving four years in the United States Coast Guard. Adjusting back to being on the gridiron has been more of a mental challenge for Gillis.
“It’s been tough,” Gillis, a strong safety, said. “The main thing is just getting the verbiage down, I’d say. Physically it has been fine trying to keep up with it and stay fit like the Coast Guard. Physically it’s been an OK adjustment but just the mental aspect and trying to get back in the swing of football has been the challenge. But it’s been exciting. It’s been good to strap the helmet back on and just have fun.”
Both players have the advantage of being surrounded by experienced teammates in their position groups. This year, Williamson has put a focus on his explosiveness off the line of scrimmage.
“Our defensive line group is good,” Williamson said. “We’re senior-heavy with a lot of older guys. We got a new defensive line coach this year and he really knows what he’s doing. I think it’s going to be a great year from this group.
“I want to improve on staying low and shooting my hands more,” Williamson said. “I’m a taller guy, so if I stay low I can get a lot more power coming off the line of scrimmage.”
For Gillis, absorbing all he can on and off the field while making the most of the chances he gets is his focus heading into the fall.
“The safeties and the secondary are definitely a strong group,” Gillis said. “There’s three or four upperclassmen in front of me. I’m older than them but they have more experience here. I’m just trying to learn from them, follow what they do at practice and then focus in the film sessions and meetings.
“Learning and getting familiar is kind of what I’ve taken away from it,” Gillis said. “And then trying to make an impact on special teams wherever I can. I just want to make sure I show up when I get called upon.”
Williamson’s also hoping to make the most of his chances while rotating in with the defensive line group.
“I’m focused on making the most out of the opportunities I get,” Williamson said. “You may get certain small opportunities but you can turn those into big opportunities by playing hard and trying to get it done. I know the coaches will put the best guys out there in every scenario.”
With Endicott coming off a 7-4 season in 2018, both Williamson and Gillis agree that the Gulls are primed for another step forward in 2019.
“I think this team’s going to be great,” Gillis said. “I watched a couple of games last year on a stream when I was in Miami. From what I saw they were great. Working out with them this summer and then leading up to preseason has confirmed that. Being from Marblehead I’ve always had Endicott in the back of my mind.”
“I think we’re ready,” Williamson said. “We’re ready to take whatever comes at us and obviously a (Commonwealth Coast) conference championship would be awesome. This team, we all worked over the summer and we work hard every day at camp. So I think the sky’s the limit.”
The Gulls open the season next Friday night (7) when they host Framingham State.
