The views and opinions expressed in this article do not reflect those of the team.
HBCU players have been an integral part of the NFL's history. From Jerry Rice to Larry Little and Walter Payton, the league has been shaped by talented athletes from historically black colleges and universities.
For the Washington Commanders, this fact should be familiar to them. Doug Williams, a Grambling alum, guided Washington to its second Super Bowl victory with an impressive performance, taking down the Denver Broncos with 340 yards and four touchdowns.
In anticipation for the 2025 NFL Draft and in honor of Black History Month, Commanders.com highlighted two HBCU prospects from the DMV. Here's a Q&A with Morgan State head coach Damon Wilson about cornerback Carlvainsky Decius and defensive tackle Elijah Williams.
On Decius' biggest growth in his college career:
"His biggest growth, I think is his overall maturity and understanding the game better. He was always a good person, but I think he spent more time with his defensive back coach, Coach Smith, actually learning off schemes and being able to get up on the board and check link coverages and that sort of thing. I also think he's done a much a better job there.
On if there was a specific moment where Decius' growth in maturity was the most obvious:
"I think that was really last season, his junior years when I saw the major change. Also his confidence level. Most of the time when we are playing against a team, their number one receiver be locked up against that guy. He looks forward to those challenges. I think that really happened in two years. So this year he came into it. He was already of the mindset of understanding what his role was, and took it and ran with him.
On what made Wilson confident Decius was ready to take on teams' No. 1 receivers:
So a lot of times teams in a three by one look to try to isolate their best receiver for a quarterback. And in most situations for us, he was always that corner that was isolated on the team number one receiver. So some of it was commanded, some of it was just the overall objectives of the opposing teams, but him having the ability to step up and take away a number one guy was great for us.
On the mindset a cornerback needs to have when going against a team's top receiver:
I think you have the confidence in your preparation. You also have to understand you must have a short memory. I mean, those guys, nine times out of 10, they going be targeted, but you get to go right back and step right back up to the challenge again. But a lot of film study, a lot of understanding tendencies, and concepts. And that's something I think Carl has really done a great job and just furthering his knowledge with regards to overall conference.
On Decius' confidence:
"I think it's extremely important. Like I said, he's a big preparation guy. You look into his scout team notebook, he has a ton of notes written, and now it's about applying what you've seen on film and being confident and the tendencies that the concepts of everything that you saw. I've seen film that will come around full circle, that give you the ability to make a break or the ball or give you the ability to take away a particular route and in particular situations. I think he's an extremely confident football player and extremely knowledgeable.
On Decius' best skill set that translates to the NFL:
"I think his work ethic. He already works like a pro. He understands preparation, takes great care of his body. So I think him already having a pro mindset was really been the best asset that's gonna carry on.
On his first interactions with Williams:
"First time I met him met, he was an outside linebacker. Morgan was a three-down team at the time. We moved to a four-down scheme, and we said, 'Hey, big guy, you're gonna have to put your hand in the dirt if you want to fit into what we're trying to get done so you can have a future for yourself. He bought into that mindset, bought into his role, and there was no turning back from day one. Super duper coachable guy, person on the field, hard worker and everything. Just a great overall personality. He's a nasty guy."
On what Williams had to do to make the position switch:
"I think one of the things that helped him was that he was a center in high school, so he'd already had his hand in the dirt. So that wasn't that major. We moved him up and down our of line and he excelled at all spots that we put him in. I think he's gonna have his future as a interior guy at the next level. But he's pretty much doing it all at this point. And he understands the game."
On if Williams always had speed and quickness as part of his skill set:
"I would say yes, but if you look at him he may not look like a pro football player. When you put this helmet on, that's all you see. This is a dominant guy. That's that quick burst. I think that he's had that. I think some of that is that outside linebacker showing off."
On the advice he has for both players:
"Just enjoy the process. You put the work in, enjoy doing your work, trust your work. Continue to stay a professional. Attack everything that you're doing professionally. And that's what those guys done. Elijah's already graduated, Carl graduates in May. Those guys are already ahead of most coming out and having an opportunity to continue to play at the highest level, just enjoy this process, understand that it's a business."
