Coaching stint a 'dream come true' for Travis Williams

AUBURN -- No matter how long his tenure as linebackers coach is, Travis Williams is trying to make an impact.

"He told us the first day that he came in to coach us that he'll be coaching us (and) that it was a dream come true for him," linebacker Kris Frost said. "You can see it each and every day that we go out there in how much intensity he puts in each and every single drill and how much focus he puts into the little things."

Williams, a former linebacker for the Tigers who served as a graduate assistant in 2009-10, moved from a defensive analyst role to linebackers coach following the firing of Ellis Johnson.

Whether it's for a month of bowl prep or if Williams is retained in some capacity under new defensive coordinator Will Muschamp remains to be seen.

In the week of practice before heading to Tampa for the Outback Bowl, Williams brought a different level on intensity to the strongest position group on the defense.

"He's been making us get after it lately," Frost said. "We're seeing a different side to us as far as linebackers and we're enjoying it. We're having a lot more fun at practice. … His style is a lot more physical, just making sure that every single play is a physical play and really spending extra time, making sure that we spend extra time on our own, outside of the meeting room (and) off the field."

Williams has not been available for interviews.