Starckey, Williams off to all-star game

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Wilmington College Tarrell Starckey and Nick Williams will play Sunday in the 4th National Bowl Game, an annual post-season college football all-star game consisting of players from non-FBS schools.

The game will be played at Ocean Bank Field at FIU Stadium in Miami, Fla.

The National Bowl Game showcases All-American and All Conference seniors from around the Nation that travel to the game from over 30 states representing over 400+ Division II, Division III and FCS schools.

Starckey, from Richmond, Va., and Williams, from Cleveland, will be members of the White Squad. Starckey is set to wear No. 26. Williams will wear No. 45.

Starckey is a 6-2, 225-pound strong safety and linebacker. Williams is a 5-11, 215-pound linebacker. The two will have a team meeting 10 a.m. Friday in Miami, then practice twice before playing in Sunday’s game, Starckey said.

Williams, who attended Fairview High School in northeast Ohio, finished the 2015 season with 89 tackles, two sacks, two forced fumbles and nine total tackles for loss. He earned honorable mention All-OAC honors.

“I just wanted to go out there and play one more time,” Williams said early Friday morning after arriving in Miami.

While a 5-11, 215-pound Division III linebacker doesn’t automatically equate to a linebacker in the professional ranks, Williams is willing to do whatever any team wants. But he realizes this could well be his final game in pads.

“I’ll listen to whatever team wants me,” he said.

Williams, a business major at WC, said he’d be interested in coaching football, like his father.

For Starckey, the opportunity to compete in the all-star game is a step toward his dream of playing professional football.

“I just want to show the kids that if you work hard you can reach your dreams,” Starckey said. “I am thankful for the opportunity for this chance.”

Starckey was a first team All-Ohio Athletic Conference performer this season at safety, an honor he earned for the second time in his WC career. He was a first-team linebacker in 2013.

Starckey played football at Div. II Bluefield College out of high school then transfered to West Virginia University. He didn’t play for the Mountaineers, though.

“There were issues with the NCAA, the rulebook, guidelines regarding my eligibility,” he said.

Starckey touched base with his defensive coordinator at Bluefield, Stacey Hairston, who had taken over as the head coach at Wilmington College.

“He already knew what I could do and that was the main reason I came to Wilmington,” Starckey said.

Wilmington College seniors Tarrell Starckey (9) and Nick Williams (45) have been selected to play in Sunday’s National Bowl Game in Miami, Fla.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2015/12/web1_starckey_williams1.jpgWilmington College seniors Tarrell Starckey (9) and Nick Williams (45) have been selected to play in Sunday’s National Bowl Game in Miami, Fla.

By Mark Huber

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Reach Mark Huber at 937-556-5765, or on Twitter @wnjsports.

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