Alaskan Aiden Williams signs with Pittsburgh Steelers as undrafted free agent
Alaska's News Source
[{'start': '0.240', 'end': '5.759', 'text': 'An NFL dream that started in Alaska is'}, {'start': '3.120', 'end': '10.279', 'text': 'closer to coming true. We check in with'}, {'start': '5.759', 'end': '10.279', 'text': 'sports director Jordan Rodenberger.'}, {'start': '10.800', 'end': '15.599', 'text': "Yeah, I'm here at East Anchorage High"}, {'start': '12.880', 'end': '18.160', 'text': 'School, the home turf of 2019. Graduate'}, {'start': '15.599', 'end': '20.880', 'text': 'Aiden Williams, who recently signed a'}, {'start': '18.160', 'end': '22.800', 'text': 'deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers as an'}, {'start': '20.880', 'end': '25.760', 'text': "undrafted free agent. And I'm now join"}, {'start': '22.800', 'end': '27.920', 'text': 'joined by his parents, Travis and Sarah'}, {'start': '25.760', 'end': '29.599', 'text': 'Williams. First of all, congratulations.'}, {'start': '27.920', 'end': '31.760', 'text': 'That is incredible. And what was your'}, {'start': '29.599', 'end': '34.320', 'text': 'reaction when Aiden let you know that he'}, {'start': '31.760', 'end': '35.840', 'text': 'ended up getting the call there? Well,'}, {'start': '34.320', 'end': '38.160', 'text': 'it was really exciting, you know, cuz we'}, {'start': '35.840', 'end': '40.079', 'text': 'were we in the draft all three days and'}, {'start': '38.160', 'end': '42.160', 'text': 'we were just, you know, fingers crossed.'}, {'start': '40.079', 'end': '43.840', 'text': 'And so when we found out after the'}, {'start': '42.160', 'end': '45.680', 'text': 'draft, I mean, it was minutes and we'}, {'start': '43.840', 'end': '47.920', 'text': "were Yeah, we just couldn't believe it."}, {'start': '45.680', 'end': '49.920', 'text': 'How about mom? Uh, I was on the phone'}, {'start': '47.920', 'end': '54.079', 'text': 'with Aiden and when you said Pittsburgh'}, {'start': '49.920', 'end': '56.559', 'text': "Steelers, I just sat there and I didn't"}, {'start': '54.079', 'end': '59.039', 'text': "have any words. I wasn't expecting it, I"}, {'start': '56.559', 'end': '60.640', 'text': 'guess. Oh, incredible. And he mentioned'}, {'start': '59.039', 'end': '63.039', 'text': "that he's been playing since about third"}, {'start': '60.640', 'end': '64.799', 'text': 'grade. And when did you kind of realize,'}, {'start': '63.039', 'end': '67.360', 'text': "okay, he's taken it seriously or he's"}, {'start': '64.799', 'end': '69.680', 'text': 'got something special here with Aiden?'}, {'start': '67.360', 'end': '70.960', 'text': 'Um, well, at at that age, yeah. Um,'}, {'start': '69.680', 'end': '73.040', 'text': 'early age, you know, we got him into'}, {'start': '70.960', 'end': '77.200', 'text': 'Boys and Girls Club and he just every'}, {'start': '73.040', 'end': '77.200', 'text': 'year and all the practices all'}, {'start': '77.720', 'end': '82.479', 'text': 'summer going at it and then, you know,'}, {'start': '80.080', 'end': '84.960', 'text': 'become a passion for him. Um, you know,'}, {'start': '82.479', 'end': '86.960', 'text': "we we've watched football all, you know,"}, {'start': '84.960', 'end': '89.040', 'text': 'growing up young also as well and we'}, {'start': '86.960', 'end': '91.920', 'text': "have our teams and he's a huge Minnesota"}, {'start': '89.040', 'end': '93.520', 'text': 'Vikings fan. So, you know, just just'}, {'start': '91.920', 'end': '95.280', 'text': 'watching him grow up, you know, through'}, {'start': '93.520', 'end': '97.600', 'text': 'the years. So, has this been a lifelong'}, {'start': '95.280', 'end': '99.439', 'text': 'dream for Aiden here? Yes, I think it'}, {'start': '97.600', 'end': '102.720', 'text': 'has. I think it really hit him when he'}, {'start': '99.439', 'end': '106.880', 'text': 'was in high school and he had his uncle'}, {'start': '102.720', 'end': '109.680', 'text': 'coaching over at an opposing team and'}, {'start': '106.880', 'end': '111.280', 'text': 'his grandpa was coach or helping team'}, {'start': '109.680', 'end': '113.280', 'text': 'manager. And I think when they just saw'}, {'start': '111.280', 'end': '114.960', 'text': 'that he had the potential, they just'}, {'start': '113.280', 'end': '117.360', 'text': 'helped him boost up his confidence and'}, {'start': '114.960', 'end': '118.560', 'text': 'he took it from there. And last time he'}, {'start': '117.360', 'end': '119.920', 'text': 'was here and you guys were cheering in'}, {'start': '118.560', 'end': '122.159', 'text': 'the bleachers. He was catching'}, {'start': '119.920', 'end': '123.840', 'text': 'touchdowns on offense as a tight end and'}, {'start': '122.159', 'end': '126.159', 'text': 'then we know his transition to an'}, {'start': '123.840', 'end': '127.759', 'text': 'offensive lineman, gaining over 50'}, {'start': '126.159', 'end': '129.360', 'text': 'pounds. And he gave you guys a shout out'}, {'start': '127.759', 'end': '131.760', 'text': 'in our interview saying he guys helped'}, {'start': '129.360', 'end': '133.680', 'text': 'with the grocery bill. So how much food'}, {'start': '131.760', 'end': '135.200', 'text': 'was this young man putting down and just'}, {'start': '133.680', 'end': '137.760', 'text': 'that? Walk me through that transition'}, {'start': '135.200', 'end': '139.840', 'text': 'there. Uh, well, I could tell you right'}, {'start': '137.760', 'end': '141.599', 'text': "now I I don't think I've I I would have"}, {'start': '139.840', 'end': '143.920', 'text': 'never in my wildest dreams spent so much'}, {'start': '141.599', 'end': '145.840', 'text': 'money on food. But, um, but yeah, you'}, {'start': '143.920', 'end': '147.360', 'text': 'know, to to see him uh, you know, go'}, {'start': '145.840', 'end': '150.080', 'text': 'from here and to the college level and'}, {'start': '147.360', 'end': '151.760', 'text': 'get bigger and and stronger, um, he need'}, {'start': '150.080', 'end': '154.080', 'text': 'he needed to do that to get where he is'}, {'start': '151.760', 'end': '156.160', 'text': 'today. So,'}, {'start': '154.080', 'end': '157.680', 'text': "anything out there? I just I'm so"}, {'start': '156.160', 'end': '160.319', 'text': 'excited that somebody else is paying his'}, {'start': '157.680', 'end': '162.239', 'text': "food bill now. That's right. It's on you"}, {'start': '160.319', 'end': '164.720', 'text': 'now, Aiden. And we actually spoke to'}, {'start': '162.239', 'end': '166.480', 'text': "Aiden earlier today and here's a little"}, {'start': '164.720', 'end': '168.560', 'text': 'message he sent about what it meant to'}, {'start': '166.480', 'end': '171.760', 'text': 'represent Alaska here as he chases his'}, {'start': '168.560', 'end': '173.760', 'text': 'NFL dream. So just trying to trying to'}, {'start': '171.760', 'end': '175.440', 'text': 'put Alaska like on a map like you know'}, {'start': '173.760', 'end': '177.760', 'text': 'we got some really great athletes in'}, {'start': '175.440', 'end': '179.599', 'text': "Alaska and it's one of the states that"}, {'start': '177.760', 'end': '182.000', 'text': 'gets overlooked um you know nine times'}, {'start': '179.599', 'end': '184.159', 'text': 'out of 10. So, if I can if I can just do'}, {'start': '182.000', 'end': '185.840', 'text': 'my best and excel at a really high'}, {'start': '184.159', 'end': '188.000', 'text': 'level, you know, and you know, tell my'}, {'start': '185.840', 'end': '189.519', 'text': 'story of where I come from, um, you'}, {'start': '188.000', 'end': '191.760', 'text': 'know, it kind of puts in perspective'}, {'start': '189.519', 'end': '193.840', 'text': 'that that other people see and they hear'}, {'start': '191.760', 'end': '196.080', 'text': 'me talk and say, you know, there there'}, {'start': '193.840', 'end': '198.720', 'text': 'there are good athletes there and, you'}, {'start': '196.080', 'end': '200.560', 'text': 'know, take take a chance on them. So, I'}, {'start': '198.720', 'end': '202.000', 'text': 'know my coaches took a chance on me and,'}, {'start': '200.560', 'end': '203.840', 'text': 'you know, I hope other coaches see that'}, {'start': '202.000', 'end': '207.200', 'text': 'as well, uh, because there are some'}, {'start': '203.840', 'end': '207.200', 'text': 'really great people there.'}]