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

"Anything to play a sport is a blessing. Being able to run around is a blessing. [I am] very blessed to be here [and] very excited to be here," Williams said after practice at the team's facility in Orchard Park. "[I still have] a lot of learning to do. I haven’t played football since high school to be honest with you. As you guys know, I’ve been in the lacrosse world. So [there's still] a lot of catching up, a lot of learning. [I'm] just trying to learn as fast as I can."

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

He went on to star in college at Virginia, and then moved to the professional ranks, winning championships in both 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’m just taking my chance and working as hard as I can," Williams said. 

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

And the opportunity to have a tryout in another pro sport with the hometown 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] like 4 or 5," Williams said. "I knew I always wanted to come back to it. So this is kind of my chance."