Morrison and Williams, Both Played for Stepinac HS, Signed After Draft by Raiders and Saints
Two Yonkers natives who attended Stepinac High School had their dreams of playing in the NFL come a little closer to reality. TJ Morrison and Trill Williams, both defensive backs, were signed by the Las Vegas Raiders and New Orleans Saints. While neither was selected in the NFL draft, every pro football team is always looking for another defensive back to help cover wide receivers in today’s pass happy NFL.
Morrison, a 2016 graduate of Stepinac, played four years for SUNY Stony Brook. Williams, a 2018 Stepinac grad, played three years for Syracuse University. Both players could have returned for more college football but both decided it was time to move on and try to make it on an NFL team.
Longtime Stepinac Football Coach and athetlic director Mike O’Donnell said, “This is a nhistoric moment for Stepinac to have three of our recent outstanding footbal lalumni to be either drafted by or signed with NFL teams. The fact that only a very select number of players earn NFL standing makes Stepinac’s representation in those ranks a singularly impressive achievement by these extraordinary student athletes. The entire Stepinac family congratulates and wishes Malcolm, T.J. and Trill great success as they follow in Stepinac’s pat hto greater fame as professional football players.”
The third Stepinac player O’Donnell referenced was Peekskill native Malcolm Koonce, who played at SUNY Buffalo as a defensvie end and who was drafted by the LA Raiders in the 3rd round. Koonce and Morrison will now be together at the Raiders training camp this summer hoping to make the squad.
Koonce graduated in March of 2021 from Buffalo, Morrison graduated from Stony Brook where has was working on his MBA when the Raiders called. Williams plans on completing his degree at SU in the future.
Another Yonkers -Stepinac students, Gavin Heslop will be playing for the Seattle Seahawks this fall after playing one game last year while a member of their practice squad.
“There are not too many schools, especially in New York State, that can claim this record. Right now ,there are a total of 56 Stepinac alumni playing college football. When you add it all up, this record reflects a unique culture that Stepinac has created that consistently shapes very successful student athletes,” said O’Donnell, also referencing the Stepinac HS basketball players that are being recruited by college hoops powerhouses.
