WATCH: Alabama DL Quinnen Williams nearly threw shade at Kyler Murray but stopped at the perfect time

For a reporter, getting an athlete to speak candidly is a major accomplishment. For a variety of reasons, many athletes stick to predictable, seemingly scripted cliche-heavy answers that avoid saying anything controversial (or interesting).

At Orange Bowl Media Day, Jeff Kolb of FOX 23 Tulsa came close to hitting the candid quote jackpot. He asked Alabama DL Quinnen Williams if he has faced any quarterback like Oklahoma’s Kyler Murray. After saying he hasn’t, Williams goes on to say “I feel like Kyler Murray is not…” but stops himself short of shading the Heisman Trophy winner or giving the Sooners any bulletin board material.

The ESPN cameras are sure to be closely following any on-the-field conversations between Williams and Murray Saturday night when No. 1 Alabama takes on No. 4 Oklahoma.

Here we go 👀 Asked @AlabamaFTBL stud DT @QuinnenD1 about @TheKylerMurray and Quinnen almost spoke his mind about the @HeismanTrophy winner: “I feel like Kyler Murray is not… nah, I’m good.” #Sooners #CrimsonTide #OrangeBowl pic.twitter.com/Cr03Zu2RP8

— Jeff Kolb (@JeffKolbTV) December 27, 2018

Andrew Olson

Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.