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William Green was born December 17, 1979 in Atlantic City, NJ and is the Pro Day 2020 Honoree. William's childhood was less than idyllic. He lost both of his parents by the age of fourteen. Orphaned, Green was separated from his four siblings and raised by his grandmother. He attended Holy Spirit High School in Absecon, NJ where he played football team. During his freshman year he was ready to quit when Spartans coach Ed Byrnes pulled him aside and told him, �You don�t have to be great to get started. You just have to get started to be great." From that point on William worked hard at football and received multiple high school All-American honors. Green received an athletic scholarship to Boston College and played for the BC Eagles from 1998 to 2001. In two years as a starting running back, he compiled over 2,700 yards rushing and 32 touchdowns. College Honors:
The Cleveland Browns selected Green as the 16th overall pick in the first round of the 2002 NFL Draft. As a rookie, Green appeared in all regular season games gaining 887 yards and scoring six touchdowns. In a game that same season against Atlanta with playoff implications, Green provided Browns fans with one of the most memorable moments of the new Browns. He ran a 64-yard touchdown to put the Browns ahead for good in a play known as "Run William Run!" coined by play-by-play radio announcer Jim Donovan. Green was a runner up for NFL Rookie of the Year. Green's 2003 season was unfortunately fraught with turmoil. After a good start with 559 yards, Green was arrested for drunk driving and marijuana possession. The arrest led to a NFL four-game suspension. During that time there was a domestic incident, so the league extended his suspension through the end of the 2003 season for treatment purposes. His final season in Cleveland (2005) was injury-plagued. He appeared in eight games and gained only 78 yards. The Browns placed him on injured reserve at the end of training camp in 2006 and reached an injury settlement with Green allowing them to release him. Though a comeback was attempted in 2008 with Green in good shape, he did not sign a contract. William married his high school sweetheart, Asia Gray and is father to eight children, seven with his wife and one from a previous relationship. Green became an ordained minister in 2012 and works full time as a motivational speaker. He travels worldwide captivating audiences of students and adults alike inspiring them with his history and challenging them not to give up. Pro Day salutes William for getting started on his next chapter and are proud to have him as the Mt. Holly Pro Day 2020 Honoree. �
2020, Bill Gordon Mt. Holly Pro Day |