Graduate receiver William Lankford’s nickname is fitting.

“You tell him, Unc,” members of the Elon football team said as graduate receiver William Lankford prepared for an interview.

On Oct. 9, Lankford will reach 20 years around football. And as he enters his fifth and final season at Elon, he has found himself taking on a role that extends beyond what he does between the lines.

He’s the guy younger players can lean on.

“An Unc that takes care of his nephews,” Lankford said when asked what type of leader he is. 

Lankford was named a captain for the second consecutive season, but he said he’s grown into the role. He’s become more vocal, using his experience to make sure teammates are in the right place and aren’t left in a pinch.

The message he gives his ‘nephews’ is simple: “Tough times don’t last. Tough people do.”

Lankford knows that lesson firsthand.

He began his Elon career as a quarterback, eventually making his first college start. It didn’t go the way he hoped.

“I didn’t necessarily perform to a winning standard,” Lankford admitted. “And I actually performed pretty poorly.”

The experience stuck with him. But instead of allowing the difficult moments to define him, Lankford leaned on his teammates — the same teammates who helped keep him going when he was struggling.

He said that this experience has shaped how he approaches leadership today. Football, he tells younger players, isn’t something they have to navigate alone.

“You’re never going to be able to play this sport by yourself,” Lankford said. “That’s kind of been one thing I’ve tried to nail into younger guys ever since I’ve been in this role.”

His own career has given him plenty of perspectives to share.

After starting as a quarterback, Lankford transitioned to receiver and special teams, allowing him to understand the game from multiple positions. He said his quarterback background helps him recognize coverages as a receiver, while his work on special teams has taught him to appreciate the players whose contributions may not show up in the box score.

Now, as one of Elon’s oldest players, his focus has shifted again.

When asked what would make this season successful, Lankford didn’t start with statistics or personal accomplishments. He talked about his teammates.

He wants to see younger players succeed. He wants to see sixth-year receiver and close personal friend Jamarien Dalton return from a year of injury and thrive. He wants to see sophomore quarterback Brady Stober continue to grow as a leader — even though Lankford competed with him at quarterback earlier this summer. And he wants to watch the teammates he’s spent years alongside reach their own goals.

“I just kind of want to see the younger guys on our team win,” Lankford said.

For Lankford, that’s what success looks like now.

“Seeing their successes and everything that they got going on, whether they stay here or don’t, that I think that’ll be success for me,” Lankford said. 

Head coach Tony Trisciani said Lankford has been one of the most vocal players to step up as the team looks to increase its focus on accountability. 

“He’s one of the guys who has really stepped up,” Trisciani said. “It can’t just be coaches. It has to be players too.” 

That player-led accountability has become a major emphasis for Elon entering the 2026 season, and Lankford is one of the veterans expected to establish that standard. 

Trisciani said Lankford’s approach embodies the philosophy Elon’s players have with one another. 

“It’s a matter of like deposits and withdrawals with each other,” Trisciani said, praising the captains’ leadership. “If I’m going to hold somebody accountable, I need to be making deposits with them, right? Making sure they know that I know, and encouraging them when they do right. So when they do wrong, and I need to make a withdrawal, there have been enough deposits there.” 

After 20 years around football, Lankford’s final season isn’t simply about what he can accomplish. It’s about what he can leave behind.

And if the Phoenix accomplish their goals, Lankford said he might measure his final season not by what his name says on the stat sheet, but by the names of the players he helped along the way.

And then, it’s time to move on. 

“I’ve got to start working,” Lankford joked while walking to the locker room. “I’ve got to become a working man.”