JaDarius Anderson shakes hands with Green Bay Packer Tramon Williams at Deaf Smith Elementary School on Tuesday morning. B.J. Pollock photoA group of pupils at Deaf Smith Elementary in Richmond hung on every word spoken by the football player who came to their school to talk to them.

That player was Tramon Williams, who plays cornerback in the NFL with the Green Bay Packers.

His mission at the school this morning, however, was different than the one he accomplishes on the football field on Sunday afternoons in the fall.

This time, he was out to make his young fans realize the importance of setting goals and staying on track to achieve them.

Click here to view a photo gallery of his visit.

A native of Houma, La., Williams played football for and received a degree from Louisiana Tech. He was signed by the Houston Texans in 2006, but was released in the final preseason cut that year and snatched up by the Packers a few months later.

His recent decision to move to Richmond was a simple one.

"I like the area," he said with a smile.

He also likes giving back to his community and stressing to children the importance of education, which he said must come first.

Rodney Ardoin, Williams' agent, described him as "a very outstanding citizen," an excellent role model for children and a "computer whiz."

Both men find it rewarding to encourage children to do their best and stay out of trouble.

If you don't "keep your nose clean," said Ardoin, "your options are narrowed severely. What you've done is, the past has now come to haunt you in the future."

Establishing options now and keeping them open is important, the men told their young audience.

Reminding them that they have the power within themselves to get back up when they fall, and to accomplish their dreams, Williams used his exit from the Texans as an example.

Williams said he headed to Green Bay with a driving determination to succeed.

"I was coming from a tough situation, first of all," he said. "But I just went in with the confidence that I have. I just went out and perfromed."

Williams said he had a "totaly different feeling" once he arrived at the Packers' faciility, where he was made to feel like a prioroty.

"That made me feel good," he said. "I was relaxed from that day on."

Ardoin said Packers fans are so devoted, some even have their houses designed as replicas of the famed Lambeau Field.

He also said the goal for himself and Williams with Tuesday's appearance at Smith is to "keep hope alive" for youngsters who feel their dreams may be fading.

Ardoin reminded the children that Michael Jordan didn't make his high school basketball team, but went on to achieve superstardon in the NBA.

"Each one of you has a dream," said Ardoin. "Never let that dream die. Don't quit."

"You can't do anything but get better," Williams addded. "Just keep trying."