OTTAWA LAKE – Whiteford graduate DeShaun Williams is headed west to play college football.

The 2019 Whiteford graduate announced his intent to play at Highland Community College in northeast Kansas.

“DeShaun is a Division 1 athlete,” Whiteford football coach Jason Mensing said. “He’s 6-foot-5, 300 pounds and strong and can run. He’s got a lot of things going for him.”

Williams was an All-State football player at Whiteford, playing on the defensive line for the 2017 state championship team. As a senior Williams was in on 54 tackles, including 17.5 tackles for loss and a sack. He also forced two fumbles and recovered two while being named all-conference and all-region.

Highland is a junior college that often is a stepping stone for athletes looking to play at four-year universities.

“DeShaun was recruited by a number of schools, including Division 1 schools,” Mensing said. “We felt the JUCO route is best for him. The hope is he will go there, get his associates degree and move on to a Division 1 football program.”

Highland is located about halfway between Kansas City and Lincoln, Nebraska. Jeff Hancock is the Scotties head coach. A Michigan native, Hancock has made coaching stops at both Adrian College and Siena Heights University. He was named the Scotties head coach recently.

“Once Jeff got that job, I contact him, he watched fil and he offered him on the spot,” Mensing said.

The school has a long history of sending athletes on to play at four-year universities. In 2018 alone, the Scotties sent six football players on to Division 1 colleges, ranging from Kentucky to Missouri to Oklahoma State.