Here’s a circle of life:
University of Hawaii defensive end Manly Williams was named after his uncle, a former Rainbow Warriors football player, and nicknamed “Pumbaa” because of his childhood affinity for the warthog character in the Disney movie “The Lion King.”
In his introductory news conference, UH coach Nick Rolovich re-dubbed the football program as “Pride Rock,” which was the name of the Lion King’s home.
And now Pumbaa Williams, a second-year freshman, plays for Pride Rock …
“Coincidence, isn’t it?” Rolovich said, smiling.
“It feels like it was meant to be,” Williams said.
Williams’ story is a Disney-like script, retelling the maturation of an 8-year-old boy who had to re-learn English to a UH defensive end.
“He was a smart kid who always listened and knew right from wrong and always worked hard,” the elder Manly Williams said of his nephew.
Williams and his brother, former UH linebacker Lance Williams, were raised by their paternal grandparents. He was born in Honolulu, spent several years in Samoa, and moved back to Kalihi when he was 8.
“I had to learn English all over again,” Williams recalled. “My auntie used to watch Korean soap operas. She made me read the subtitles.”
He also learned from cartoons and by watching a VHS tape of “The Lion King.”
“We watched it 100 times,” Williams said. “We liked Timon and Pumbaa. My brother kept calling me ‘Pumbaa’ and it stuck.”
Williams was a sophomore when he started for Farrington’s varsity football team.
“He’s very coachable,” Farrington coach Randall Okimoto said. “You tell him something once, and he’ll soak it in, and execute.”
Okimoto likened Williams to his namesake uncle, who was one of the Rainbow Warriors’ fiercest defensive players.
Williams was recruited as a safety. He grayshirted in the 2014 fall semester, then joined the Warriors in January 2015. It was then decided Williams, at 6 feet 2 and 220 pounds, was a better fit at weakside linebacker. He redshirted in 2015 after suffering a knee injury during training camp.
This spring, Williams has been moved to weakside defensive end.
“That’s the migration of man,” defensive coordinator Kevin Lempa said. “That’s where he fits.”
Williams said it has not been an easy transition to edge rusher. He said he studied YouTube videos of NFL defensive ends, such as Michael Bennett of the Seattle Seahawks. This past Thursday, Bennett, who owns a home on Oahu, visited the Warriors’ practice, offering tips to the defensive linemen.
“It’s a blessing having your role model, somebody you look up to, come out to practice and teach you his ways and show you some of the moves he uses at the professional level,” said Williams, noting Bennett emphasized “hand fights” to elude grasping blockers. “It was great having him here.”
Bennett said: “I’m happy to help.”
