Deonte Williams runs to prominence at Pleasant Grove

They held "Bling Day" on campus not long ago as part of Homecoming Week at Pleasant Grove High School. It came as no real surprise that the guy who goes by "Bling" garnered the most guffaws and high-fives.

Take a bow, Deonte Williams. The decorated senior tailback sparkles in every way. On some days, when the mood strikes, you will notice his "grill," a mouth full of gold teeth, not because he needs the fixtures but because, shoot, they look rather cool.

Stud earrings, dangling necklaces thick enough to tow a half-ton pickup, Williams glistens from head to knees.

"It's a part of me," "Bling" said of all of his bling. "I really don't need any of it, but it's fun. It's for show, and the guys tease me about it."

Williams is a free spirit, a bundle of shy laughs and clever one-liners whose work ethic in the classroom and in shoulder pads makes for one popular fellow. He arrived at the sparkling new Elk Grove Unified School District campus over the summer, a transfer from Valley.

One thing about athletes trying to make new friends: Make first downs, and you're suddenly in good company. And if there's one player who has literally burst onto the prep scene this fall from seemingly nowhere, it's Williams.

A mixture of speed, inside power, vision and breakaway burst, the 5-foot-11, 175-pounder leads the Sac-Joaquin Section in rushing with 1,269 yards. He has 17 touchdowns as a virtual one-man offensive dynamo for the 5-1 Eagles. And he's slowly creeping into a more clear focus on the recruiting radar.

When you think of big-time recruits in the region this season, you think Armond Armstead, the shadow-casting, 6-5, 285-pound lineman for Pleasant Grove who has already verbally committed to USC. Armstead has anointed himself as a Williams publicist, insisting his pal is "a Division I player who no one really knows about – yet."

Williams is helping his own recruiting cause, compiling clips of his efforts and sending them across the land. His coaches also get the word out. Williams has received recruiting mail from Oregon, Idaho State, Utah State and Boise State.

"He's been awfully good," Pleasant Grove coach Joe Cattolico said. "He's got special ability, and I think what separates him is he has good power inside. He's getting some looks, and we hope he'll get some more. Someone will get a great kid and a player who will only get better."

Williams has a believer in Larry Cunha, the Roseville coach who cringed at watching Williams scoot for 188 yards and three touchdowns against his team this season. Cunha, who has had more than his share of Division I recruits, said Williams is a very talented player.

"He's the best back we've seen (this season)," Cunha said. "I was thoroughly impressed. He took their running back position to another level."

Williams was born in Oakland and raised in Sacramento, the oldest of three children – big brother to kid sisters – to LaTonya Williams, a local nurse. Williams was a reserve at Valley as a junior, a steady player for a struggling team. The switch to the new school on the other side of the district resulted from his mother moving into a house just down the street from Pleasant Grove.

Still, it's never easy to uproot just before your senior year.

"I was really nervous at first because I didn't know anyone here," Williams said. "But everyone here opened their arms to me. It's been great. I felt so welcomed. I met Armond, and he was great. He told me, 'I'm going to help you get 2,000 yards.' "

The teenagers laughed about it then, but he's well on his way. Williams had 267 yards and the only touchdown in a 7-0 victory over Chavez, and he'll get more tests in the coming weeks as the program seeks a playoff berth.

Leading the charge: "Bling."

"He's such a great kid, and he leads by example," Pleasant Grove assistant coach Russ Sommers said. "I wish more kids were like that. He's got personality, and he's got a fire in him to succeed."

About the writer:

• The Bee's Joe Davidson can be reached at (916) 321-1280 or jdavidson@sacbee.com.