In a perfect world, North Texas head coach Todd Dodge would have Darien Williams firmly planted on the bench on Saturday nights so he could make a slow transition to the college game.

Darien Williams

That luxury is one of many the Mean Green hasn’t been able to afford in what has been a tough season.

Williams was on UNT’s depth chart at safety practically from the moment he stepped on campus this fall, and will make his seventh career start on Saturday when the Mean Green takes on Sun Belt Conference power Troy at Fouts Field.

The transition from playing at the Class 3A level to starting at a Bowl Subdivision school hasn’t always been easy for Williams, but it has gone well enough for UNT to be confident in his future.

“It’s been a big jump, kind of, but we played at a high level in high school,” Williams said. “I am used to playing against good people. It’s a step up, but not as big a one as some of the guys from smaller schools. The big difference is the speed of the game.”

Williams, 5-10, 185, has shown signs of developing into a standout while making the adjustment. He led the Mean Green with 12 tackles in a loss to Louisiana-Lafayette two weeks ago and ranks third among UNT players with 40 tackles heading into the weekend.

Williams is one of several young players the Mean Green is relying on this season while struggling defensively. UNT ranks last nationally with an average of 50.7 points allowed a game and is 0-7 on the year.

UNT is hoping the experience Williams and fellow freshmen defensive backs Royce Hill, DaWaylon Cook and John Shorter gain this season will help the Mean Green take a big step forward in the next few seasons.

“Darien is one who is going to benefit from this experience,” Dodge said. “We have to make sure he doesn’t lose confidence. You are going to have to live with some freshman mistakes.”

Williams was quick to point out that he missed four tackles and blew an assignment that allowed ULL tight end Erik Jones to get loose for a 35-yard reception two weeks ago.

While Williams has made his mistakes along the way, he has also made a series of big plays. Williams combined with defensive lineman Isaac Thomas on the Mean Green’s only sack of ULL quarterback Michael Desormeaux, who torched UNT for 340 yards of total offense.

“That was one of my bigger games, considering the stage it was on,” Williams said. “I probably had more tackles in some of my high school games, but this is a different level.”

UNT’s coaches believed that Williams could compete right away at UNT after seeing him excel at Vernon, where he earned District 6-3A MVP honors as a senior.

“Darien is a physical guy with a high character,” Dodge said. “He is very competitive. It’s on us as a coaching staff and also on the team to make sure he knows not to worry about making mistakes and just goes and plays.”

Williams has kept those mistakes to a minimum after taking a year off from playing his natural position. He was a first-team all-district safety as both a sophomore and junior before moving to quarterback for his senior year, when he led Vernon to the Class 3A, Division II state semifinals.

“Safety is a tough position nowadays with the types of offenses that are being run to play a bunch as a freshman,” Dodge said. “He’s one of those four freshmen who started the season second on the depth chart. We would rather not have to play them as much as we have, but those guys are the best we’ve got.”

UNT coaches were pretty sure that was the case before the season began and were convinced after Williams played 57 snaps in the Mean Green’s season-opening loss to Kansas State.

That game was the beginning of what has been a rough road for both Williams and UNT, but it is one the Mean Green believes it will benefit from traveling in the future.

“We are going through a lot of adversity right now, but everything will turn around,”  Williams said. “Gaining experience will help me. I am getting more and more comfortable as the games go by.”

BRETT VITO can be reached at 940-566-6870. His e-mail address is bvito@dentonrc.com .

UNT freshman defensive back Darien Williams has posted several impressive games thus far this season. The following is a look back: