In one of Jayden Williams' most impressive highlights from high school, the Ole Miss football left tackle is playing wide receiver.

The formation wasn't a one-off oddity. Williams, now a 6-foot-4, 315-pound junior in charge of protecting quarterback Jaxson Dart's blindside, started off playing wide receiver in junior high and at Conway High School in Arkansas.

In the grainy 2019 Hudl video from a rainy game against Little Rock Central, Williams lines up on the far right of Conway's offensive formation. Conway runs a sweep from its 18-yard line, handing the ball to another receiver running from left to right. Williams' job is to block, and the cornerback he was assigned to tie up had no chance.

Williams blocks his much smaller opponent immediately and, as the run develops down the middle of the field, both players give chase. Williams hounds after the defensive back and plows into him on the other 18-yard line, sending him sprawling with arms splayed like an inflatable tube man.

Two blocks on the same play, 64 yards apart.

"There were a lot of times where he would maul somebody on the defensive line," said Clint Ashcraft, Williams' coach at Conway. "I'd call it putting them on wheels. And in junior high he was so much bigger, when he hit you, you knew it."

These days, Williams is playing well against players his own size. He has started every game for Ole Miss this season and, per Pro Football Focus, has allowed just two quarterback hurries and no sacks. Williams' physical development is obvious, going from high school pass catcher to four-star offensive lineman commitment in 2021. It's Williams' mental development, though, that has made him an important piece ahead of the game between No. 5 Ole Miss (4-0) and Kentucky (2-2, 0-2 SEC) on Saturday (11 a.m., ABC) at Vaught–Hemingway Stadium.

How parenthood changed Jayden Williams' mentality

"Last year was quite an emotional year for me," Williams said. "I say, like, life hit me. ... I really just had to grow up and mature a little bit ... get my mental back right to be able to come in this year and step it up."

Williams had a strong first season for Ole Miss in 2022. He was the starting left tackle and was named honorable freshman All-American. Last year, though, was a step back. Williams lost his job to Washington transfer Victor Curne. Williams' size and talent was there, but the maturity was not.

The first step in eliminating his problem was realizing its source.

"I had to look back and look in the mirror and see what was really the problem," William said. "I can honestly say that I was most of it."

A transformation happened when Williams became a father last year. He started thinking more about his daughter, Layla, and she was a catalyst for change.

"It just forced me to think about other things, like I just can't go around doing stupid stuff or jeopardize something because of my emotions because I have somebody else to look after now."

Lane Kiffin has noticed Jayden Williams' newfound maturity

Williams considered transferring after losing his job in 2023, but opted to stick it out. He said he knew the problem was with him, not a place, and he couldn't leave his daughter behind.

It worked. Coach Lane Kiffin said Williams is Ole Miss' most improved player from last season.

"He deserves a ton of credit for (not transferring), in a day and age when people transfer all the time when things aren't going their way," Kiffin said. "He stayed and fought through, worked on improving and playing tougher."

Credit Williams' pass-catching background. It's exactly what Kiffin looks for in a left tackle.

"A lot of times we look for that, because they've got good feet and good hands," Kiffin said. "They grow into lineman, but they still have their really good athleticism. He has great feet."

Sam Hutchens covers Ole Miss for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at Shutchens@gannett.com or reach him on X at @Sam_Hutchens_

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: How parenthood helped change Ole Miss football's Jayden Williams