Meet Jamal Williams — The University of North Carolina at Pembroke’s most important football player.

At 5-foot-7, he doesn’t look very intimidating. But it’s imperative that the Braves’ coaching staff puts the ball in the sophomore playmaker’s hands.

As the season kicks off Saturday in Fayetteville, the Braves’ No. 1 scoring threat is on everyone’s radar, leading an offense that averaged 32 points per game a season ago.

“The guy is extremely quick and has a great motor,” fellow wide receiver and teammate L.J. Johnson said. “He accepted his starting role early and didn’t shy away from the pressure. Judging by what he accomplished, he’s a target now.”

The lightning bug torched the opposition in his first 10 collegiate games, scoring nine all-purpose touchdowns while leading the teams in total yards from scrimmage with 1,326.

It may have looked effortless on the field, but it was far from easy according to Williams.

“It was a change from being the fastest player on the field to everyone being fast,” Williams said. “I was nervous, but they were both positive and negative nerves.”

Williams skyrocketed up the depth chart during spring practice in 2008 and received the starting nod at wide receiver against Brevard College in the season-opener.

He turned heads against the Tornados, catching six passes for 50 yards and a touchdown in a 28-0 win. He also picked up 48 yards on an end-around in the third quarter.

“I just get him the ball and let him do all the work,” Braves quarterback Cory Smith said. “When Jamal gets out in the open, he’s hard to stop.”

Those are kind words for a player who is still learning the basics of the receiver position. Williams spent his prep career as a tailback in a run-oriented offense at Millbrook High.

“If I caught passes, it was strictly out of the backfield,” Williams said.

He excels in the return game too, returning a punt and a kickoff for scores last season. Williams says holding onto the ball is the key to a long return.

“The most important part is making the initial catch,” Williams said. “Then, you have to get vertical right away. One or two moves will get you yardage, then it’s up to you to make people miss.”

Opponents’ coverage units will see a slightly different version of No. 6 hovering around the five-yard line this season.

After shedding his dreads this spring in favor of a buzz cut, Williams says his new do might make him even faster.

“I’ll let Fayetteville State be the judge of that.”

Brad Crawford is a staff writer at The Robesonian and can be reached at (910) 272-6118 or by e-mail at bcrawford@heartlandpublications.com.