Professional lacrosse star Zed Williams tries out with the Buffalo Bills

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — It’s been more than a decade since Zed Williams last played football, but the former Silver Creek High School star took his professional lacrosse experience with him to a tryout at the minicamp Buffalo Bills rookies last week.

“Anything about being able to play a sport is a blessing. Being able to run is a blessing. (I’m) very lucky to be here (and) very excited to be here,” Williams said after practice in the team’s facilities in Orchard Park. “(I still have) a lot to learn. To be honest with you, I haven’t played football since high school. As you know, I’ve been in the lacrosse world. So (he there’s still) a lot of catching up to do, a lot of learning (I’m) just trying to learn as quickly as possible.

Williams burst onto the scene as a multi-sport star at Silver Creek, where he set the national lacrosse record for career goals (444) – a mark that still stands to this day.

He later played in college in Virginia, then moved to the professional ranks, winning championships in the Premier Lacrosse League and National Lacrosse League.

“I think if you’re a competitor, you’re a competitor. If you want it bad enough, that’s how I was raised. I just take my chances and work as hard as I can,” said Williams.

Growing up in Irving, football was one of his first loves. The Bills have given him a look at tight end and linebacker, where he believes his physical brand of lacrosse can translate.

And the opportunity to try another professional sport with the local team was just too good to pass up.

“My dad always loved football. (He) always pushed me to be the best football player I could be growing up since (I was) 4 or 5 years old,” Williams said. “I knew I always wanted to come back. So this is kind of my chance.”