Todd Williams survived homelessness, an environment of crime and the deaths of both parents and a grandmother, yet managed to graduate in four years with degrees in criminology and sociology. Overcoming the adversity and despite playing one year of high school football, Williams blossomed into a two-year starter at Florida State University.

Williams had been raised by his grandmother since he was nine years old and when she died from diabetes in 1993, he fled to the streets of south Florida. Homeless and in the ninth grade, he broke into hotels for shelter and stole food and clothes to survive. Later, he was placed in a juvenile center following a fight, and then sent to a halfway house because no one picked him up at the juvenile center upon his release. During his sophomore year of high school, Williams transferred to Bradenton Southeast High School. During his senior year, coaches convinced Williams to play football. Despite never having played the game, Williams performed well enough to attract Florida State's attention and earn a scholarship.

A native of Brandenton, Florida, Williams tells his story to youth while serving as a counselor at football camps throughout the southern Florida region. Williams also finds time to work for the Florida State police as a part of its student patrol.