CFL.ca Staff

WINNIPEG -- As the Manitoba Bisons look to return to Canada West playoff action this season, one of the players the coaching staff will look to in order to get them there is quarterback Khaleal Williams.

Williams, who first came into the league as a rookie in 2009, had a successful career in the Canadian Junior Football League with the Winnipeg Rifles before joining the Bisons.

In the 2008 season, Williams picked up the Prairie Football Conference MVP honours as well as being named CJFL Most Outstanding Offensive Player on the heels of a season that saw him throw for 2,276 yards on 154 completions, with 20 touchdowns to go along with those stats.

After being recruited by Manitoba for the 2009 season, the 6’1, 205 lb quarterback picked up his first CIS win against UBC with a 40-17 win, when he passed for 215 yards and added three touchdowns.

The 2010 Canada West season may not have had the numbers Williams was used to seeing in the CJFL, but he was able to rack up 1,760 yards through the air on 123 completions. His passing efficiency was also just shy of 85% against 10 interceptions.

That season also included his first CIS start, after which coach Brian Dobie said, “He’s unwavering, he’s driven and he wasn’t letting things bother him.” Williams was 20 of 33 for 170 yards and had a 60-yard touchdown run in the game.

“The only way it’s going to get better is with reps, watching film and playing more games. You can’t buy experience, it has to be gained,” added Dobie.

Heading into the 2011 season, Williams and Dobie look to improve on last season’s 2-6 record, which left the Bisons tied with UBC at the bottom of Canada West. With a number of starts under his belt, Williams will bring experience from last season even with a very young Bisons team.

“Khaleal is entering his second season as a starter for us,” Dobie said. “We’re looking for him to take that next step, having a year of starting experience with him, as well as things like spring camps behind him now.”

-With files from the University of Manitoba Sports Information