Darrent Williams Memorial Teen Center to Be Opened in Denver Next Spring

Denver Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams may have never had the chance to truly show the kind of NFL player he could have become during his two years in the league before being killing in a drive-by shooting. The Denver Broncos are making sure the community of Denver will never forget him, however, as the team is partnering with the Boys and Girls Club of Denver to open the Darrent Williams Memorial Teen Center in January of 2008. The Broncos hope the center will have an impact on young people for years to come.

It isn't that the player did not have an impact during his short professional career. During the two years he was in the league before being murdered after being drafted in 2005, during his first season he helped preserve a victory by intercepting a pass against the Oakland Raiders on November 13, 2005 and returned it 82 yards for a touchdown. That season he also recorded 58 tackles and two interceptions and was named by both Pro Football Weekly and the Pro Football Writers Association as a first team All-Rookie selection. In 2006 he returned another interception for a touchdown, had 86 tackles, four interceptions, and had one game in which he returned two punts for more than 50 yards.

Broncos' cornerback Domonique Foxworth, who is the winner of the award as the Broncos 2007 Walter Payton Man of the Year for his charitable work in Denver, has led the drive to honor Williams in building the Memorial Center. Foxworth who will be given his award at the Super Bowl hopes the Center will be operating by March 2008.

The Denver area Boys and Girls Clubs has been helping young people, especially disadvantaged young people, including those from tough neighborhoods, stay out of trouble, stay in school, and succeed in life for years. Members pay $2 a year to participate in club activities. They do homework, participate in sports, develop social skills, and learn to express themselves. Seventy percent of members live in poverty.