Chris Olave, Brandin Cooks and other Saints stars joined Keith Williams in coaching Omaha's brightest young stars.
OMAHA, Neb. — New Orleans Saints receivers Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed and Brandin Cooks spent their Saturday coaching up some of the top young wideout talent in the Metro area — all part of a youth camp organized by Saints wide receivers coach Keith Williams.
“I was once that little kid, looking up to guys like me,” said Olave. “So, with the platform I have, just being able to come out here and help them means a lot.”
Williams, a former Nebraska assistant from 2015 to 2017, continues to give back to the community he once called home — returning nearly a decade later to help mold the next wave of playmakers.
“I enjoyed my time here living in Nebraska,” said Williams. “Great people. I built some amazing relationships—people I consider family. That’s really what motivates me to keep doing this. It’s a family affair.”
The message from the pros was clear: no matter where you’re from, your talent can take you far.
“There’s talent everywhere,” said Cooks, now in his 11th NFL season. “That’s the message—no matter where you are, if you have the talent, they’ll find you.”
Cooks added that the day of coaching turned into a learning opportunity for him too.
“These kids move differently nowadays,” he said. “You can actually learn something from them—the way they get in and out of breaks is really special, especially for how young they are.”
Roughly 70 athletes took part in the camp, with Williams running it just like he would a Saints practice.
“Regardless of your level or your role, it’s an everyday grind,” Williams said. “Every day I try to lock in, be the best coach and leader I can be, and carry that into the next day.”
“He knows what we can be, and he won’t accept anything less,” said Shaheed. “We appreciate him for everything he does and the way he pushes us.”
