Everyone here has two parents, live in big houses and a lot of them ... they’re 24 and 25 years old. I mean, it’s great for them. I don’t blame anyone for where they’re from and what they are. There’s great people here at BYU, but nobody like Jamaal that I can really relate to. BYU’s tough. It’s a tough place that way. – Devon Blackmon
PROVO — When BYU running back Jamaal Williams withdrew from school it affected most everyone on the team, but perhaps none as profoundly as receiver Devon Blackmon.
Williams’ withdrawal from BYU was announced just prior to the start of fall practices and left a huge void at running back, and for Blackmon, an enormous social void the senior receiver is struggling to fill.
“That’s my boy and you don’t replace that,” Blackmon said. “Jamaal being gone, it’s real hard for me. I’m not going to lie.”
Blackmon’s connection with Williams is apparent. Both athletes hail from Fontana, California, where they starred for Summit High School while growing up in an environment unfamiliar with the grand majority of BYU players.
Blackmon, who is one year older than Williams, played a season for Oregon upon graduation before withdrawing and then playing for Riverside (California) City College. The 6-foot speedster then opted to play for BYU, in large part due to Williams being there.
Since joining BYU’s program Blackmon and Williams had been inseparable.
“Every day and all day,” Blackmon said of how much time he’d spend with Williams. “I don’t hang with nobody else besides him because no one else gets me like Jamaal. Nobody else understands the struggles of where we come from and my personality like Jamaal does.”
The reasons no one can connect with Blackmon quite like Williams at BYU is almost entirely due to their upbringing.
“Everyone here has two parents, live in big houses and a lot of them ... they’re 24 and 25 years old,” Blackmon said. “I mean, it’s great for them. I don’t blame anyone for where they’re from and what they are. There’s great people here at BYU, but nobody like Jamaal that I can really relate to. BYU’s tough. It’s a tough place that way.”
Despite BYU being a tough place in Blackmon's estimation, he has found good support outside of Williams.
"I love the people here and I really do get along with just about everybody," Blackmon said. "But even though everyone is great and helpful, like I said, they just can't get me like Jamaal does and that's the real tough part."
Fortunately for Blackmon, he has football to help fill his time. The senior receiver saw good progress toward the end of 2014 and that has continued into the first week of fall practices this season.
“Devon is totally different,” said BYU receivers coach Guy Holliday of what he’s seen from Blackmon this August. “His attitude is different and his play-making ability is showing.”
Blackmon has been seeing most of his reps with the first-team offense where he provides practice sessions with solid and even standout play.
“I’m not feeling as much pressure this year and I’m just playing and having fun,” Blackmon said. “I’m just playing football and I feel like I’m in my zone now. I’m back and I’m feeling good. Everything is positive right now and I hope I can play a big part in what we do this year.”
Helping Blackmon along the way and encouraging him to be his best is Williams.
“Just because he’s not here doesn’t mean we don’t talk anymore,” Blackmon said. “He still has my back and he’s telling me to keep focused, encouraging me to work hard and to ball out my last year.”
While the details of why Williams withdrew haven’t been disclosed Blackmon understands his reasons, supports his friend’s decision and believes it will ultimately be for the best.
“God has a plan for everybody and this is just part of God’s plan for Jamaal,” Blackmon said. “This is something that had to happen. It’s tough for me that it had to happen and, in some ways, it’s tough for Jamaal. But it had to happen and it’s going to be a good thing in the end."
Blackmon hopes to end his final season at BYU by making a strong impact now that he has extra motivation.
"I'm definitely playing for Jamaal this year," he said. "Everything I do this year, I'm doing it for the team, but I'm also doing it for my boy who can't be here right now."
Email: bgurney@desnews.com
Twitter: @BrandonCGurney