After playing 45 games during an injury-filled University of Hawaii football career, linebacker Jerrol Garcia-Williams now will play the waiting game.
Garcia-Williams underwent thumb surgery on Dec. 30, a procedure that forced him to turn down an invitation to play in this Sunday’s Tropical Bowl all-star game in Daytona Beach, Fla. He said he will be able to do without a brace by the end of the month. He said he expects to be fully healthy for UH’s pro day in March.
Garcia-Williams, who is 6 feet 2 and 235 pounds, has been projected as a potential pro prospect since 2012, when he started seven games at strongside linebacker as a true freshman. He was the Rainbow Warriors’ fifth-leading tackler in 2013 (5.6 per game). He started the first two games in 2014 before suffering a season-ending knee injury, for which he was awarded a medical redshirt. He made nine starts in 2015 before missing the final three games because of another injury. This season, he had to overcome hamstring and thumb issues.
“I don’t know when I messed (the thumb) up,” Garcia-Williams said. “It hurt way early in the season. I played through it. I wasn’t going to say anything. I already hurt my hamstring. I was trying to get on the field. I wasn’t trying to cause any tension about playing time. I was happy to just be out there.”
Dr. Daniel Singer, a renowned hand specialist, performed the procedure. Garcia-Williams, who was raised in Las Vegas, is doing his rehabilitation sessions in Hawaii.
Garcia-Williams is projected to compete at linebacker if he advances to the pro level. He is capable of playing in the middle or on the edge.
“I played in so many different schemes (at UH),” Garcia-Williams said. During his UH career, the defensive coordinators were Thom Kaumeyer, Kevin Clune, Tom Mason, Abraham Elimimian and Kevin Lempa.
“Everything happens for a reason,” Garcia-Williams said. “I think I had a good college career. It could have been better if I stayed healthy, that’s for sure.”
His father was the Pittsburgh Steelers’ fourth-round pick in the 1989 draft. Jerrol Williams played four seasons with the Steelers before stops with the Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers and Baltimore Ravens.
