On the outside looking in, Dominique Williams wanted in.

The Stampeders announced earlier this week that they signed the running back to their practice roster. Williams couldn’t be more excited being a part of a team that he not only has kept his eye on in prior years, but one he knew he would feel welcomed.

“I can feel the camaraderie already,” Williams said. “This is a true brotherhood here and that’s what I like most about the team, that family-orientated atmosphere. And that’s what sold me the most when they called me.

“I watched a few Stampeders games over the past few years and it’s good to get back into the swing of things with the team.”

The 27-year-old’s path to the CFL saw him sign with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2014 and he spent time on the team’s practice roste rin both 2014 and 2015. He would then be added to the Jets’ practice roster in 2016 before landing in the Stampede city.

His time in the NFL saw him take away some valuable experience and develop a mindset he still has today.

“Being in the NFL three years, you always talked about being a starter no matter the position,” Williams said. “My mindset is I’m starting this week no matter what because you never know what could happen.

“Every day I wake up, I think of myself as a starter and doing anything I can do to help contribute to this team to get better.”

Before turning pro, Williams was a standout in college with at Wagner College in Staten Island, N.Y. In four seasons with the Seahawks, he turned in three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons.

While in Calgary, Williams is hopeful that he can impress the coaching staff and make a contribution to the team.

“Personally, anything I can do to make myself better I’ll do so when my number is called, we don’t skip a beat,” Williams said. “My main goal is to do whatever to help the team be successful.”