Bass fishing mixes fun, relaxation and competition for Saluki Football teammates

CARBONDALE, Ill. — When Saluki Football teammates DJ Williams, Lukus McDaniels and Gavin Shepard get done fishing, sometimes the facts are in dispute, but there’s one thing they can agree on — a good time was had by all.

Not surprisingly, when the three competitive football players set off on a fishing trip, it quickly turns into a contest to see who can catch the most bass.

“We don't even count the bluegill,” noted Williams, the team’s 5th-year quarterback.

“Lukus is going to tell you a story that he beat me,” Williams said. “I won, 27-26. Coach Hill posted the score in the team room and it came out later that Lukus cheated. He grabbed Gavin's pole because they were in the same boat, so some of the fish weren’t his. I was in the other boat.”

DJ Williams and his teammates catch fish on Coach Hill's private lake

McDaniels is having none of it.

“Nah, I really won,” the junior defensive end laughed. “DJ's a competitor, so he's just not going to accept losing. I never cheated. I caught 27 fish. DJ caught like 23. That's how it is.”

But, wait. Shepard, who has a well-known habit of ranking people and things, claims he’s the best fisherman of the trio, and he offered evidence. The Miami native grew up fishing for tuna with his dad.

“I’ve been doing this so long and learned different techniques, how different baits work and different lures,” Shepard explained. “I also have the best cast. Wherever I want to cast, it's going right there. Whether it's under a tree, in the middle of grass, I'm gonna get it where I want it.”

And about those rankings, Gavin?

“I’m number-one,” declared the junior cornerback. “I have Lukus at the two and DJ at three, DJ last.”

Gavin Shepard has fished since he was a kid fishing for tuna with his dad in Miami.

Williams shrugged off the notion that he’s in the basement.

“Yeah, I'm better than them, that's a fact,” he said.

And just where are they catching this massive haul of fish?

“Coach Hill opened up his land and his pond for us to come fish and use his boat,” McDaniels confirmed.

The exact location is a secret.

Each player explained what they love most about the sport of fishing.

“I needed a hobby to clear my mind,” said Williams, who caught his first fish when he was a senior in high school on a trip to Wisconsin. “It’s calming. You don't look at the phone at all. Whether I’m talking to somebody that’s with me or just fishing by myself, either way is just good vibes.”

McDaniels only learned to fish after he arrived in Carbondale and loves the camaraderie.

McDaniels learned to fish after he arrived in Carbondale to play football.

“It’s just the conversations we have,” he said. “We go out there for 3+ plus hours and we just make conversation and have fun. We talk about life, ball, video games, because we play a video game together as well.”

Shepard said he enjoys “the peacefulness of fishing.”

“You got guys like DJ and Lukus to chill with, talking, competing, having fun,” he said. “You don't realize it's been two or three hours until the sun starts going down.”

The day isn’t over after they put away their rods and reels.

“We go and get something to eat, and whoever wins, the other two people have to split their meal, their dinner for the night,” McDaniels said.

They eat and laugh, and re-live that moment they hooked the big one.

“Fish-on is what we call it,” Williams said. “That's when you know the score is going up.”