South Carolina football alum returning to Columbia as WWE star
A Thursday announcement from WWE included information that the wrestling big’s late-week present, Friday Night SmackDowncould be in Columbia, South Carolina this spring. On Friday, May 15, SmackDown will probably be within the Palmetto State’s capital metropolis for a stay present at Colonial Life Arena.
It will mark a homecoming for one of many wrestling trade’s brightest younger stars.
Matrick Belton, whose ring title is Trick Williams, was a member of the South Carolina football program from 2014 to 2016. Now, he is a well-liked wrestler who has earned his means up the ranks to the SmackDown roster.
Trick Williams, a local of Columbia, has been with WWE since 2021. He signed a developmental contract with the group after transient stints in a number of skilled football leagues. He rose to prominence as a roster member of WWE NXT, even winning multiple championships. Williams is now a full-time contributor on SmackDown and an rising star.
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During his South Carolina football profession, Williams–then solely identified as Belton–labored his means up from FCS switch walk-on to Gamecock contributor. Following a pre-transfer portal NCAA-mandated switch redshirt season, he was the crew’s Most Outstanding Offensive Walk-On for the 2015 spring.
The robust offseason led to him enjoying in all 12 video games of the 2015 season. That got here with 5 begins, 11 catches, and 121 yards receiving. He had a smaller function as a senior after lacking a part of the offseason. Still, he performed rather a lot on particular groups for USC that 12 months.
A former standout at WJ Keenan High School in Columbia, Williams started his school profession at Hampton University in Virginia. He performed two seasons for the Pirates earlier than transferring dwelling to be part of the Gamecocks. He performed for each Steve Spurrier and Will Muschamp at Carolina.
