#41 - Linebacker
HEIGHT: 6-3 / WEIGHT: 235 LBS
Senior/Senior
Vacaville, CA (Vacaville HS)
2007: Williams, USC’s utility linebacker who is versatile enough to have even played fullback, will serve as a top backup linebacker and a key special teams player as a senior in 2007.
2006: Williams, who started most of 2005 at linebacker, began his 2006 junior season as USC’s utility linebacker, but was moved to fullback in midseason of 2006. He also was a key special teams performer. He made his first appearance at fullback blocking on Chauncey Washington’s game-winning 2-yard touchdown run late in the Arizona State game. Overall in 2006 while appearing in all 13 games (he started the Stanford and UCLA games at fullback), he did not carry the ball or catch a pass, but he did make 18 tackles, including 1.5 for losses of 12 yards (with an 11-yard sack), and had an interception that he returned 12 yards and forced a fumble. He had 4 tackles against Nebraska (with the sack), Arizona State and Oregon State. He had 2 stops and the interception at Arkansas. He missed some of 2006 spring drills while recuperating from a 2005 knee injury. He also had surgery for an abdominal strain prior to 2006 spring practice.
2005: Williams played a key role for USC at linebacker as a sophomore in 2005. After serving as the backup on the strong side for USC’s first 2 games, he took over the starting job there for the next 6 contests (Oregon, Arizona State, Arizona, Notre Dame, Washington and Washington State), then switched to the starting inside job for the Stanford and California games. But he sprained his left kneecap at California and was sidelined for USC’s last 3 games (Fresno State, UCLA and Texas). Overall in 2005 while appearing in 10 games and starting 8 times (all but Hawaii, Arkansas, Fresno State, UCLA and Texas), he had 29 tackles, including 4 for losses of 12 yards (with a 3-yard sack), plus 3 deflections, a forced fumble and an interception that he returned 10 yards.
He had 3 tackles at Hawaii and a tackle for a loss and a deflection against Arkansas. He then made 4 tackles at Oregon in his first start. He added 2 stops (with 1 for a loss) at Arizona State, 2 tackles against Arizona, 8 stops (with a sack) and a deflection at Notre Dame and 2 tackles (1 for a loss) at Washington. He had 5 tackles, an interception to set up a USC field goal and a forced fumble against Stanford in his first start at middle linebacker. He added 2 stops at Calfiornia before spraining his kneecap.
2004: Williams backed up Dallas Sartz at strongside linebacker and also played on special teams as a redshirt freshman in 2004. Overall in 2004 while appearing in all 13 games, he made 14 tackles, including 2 for losses of 8 yards (with a 7-yard sack at Washington State). He had 3 stops against Notre Dame. He won
USC’s 2004 John McKay Award.
2003: Williams redshirted as a freshman linebacker in 2003, his first year at USC.
HIGH SCHOOL: He was named a
2002 Parade All-American, Super Prep All-American, Prep Star All-American, Tom Lemming All-American, Super Prep All-Farwest, Prep Star All-West, Tom Lemming All-West, Long Beach Press-Telegram Best in the West first team, Tacoma News Tribune Western 100, Orange County Register Fab 15 second team, Cal-Hi Sports All-State first team and Sacramento Bee All-Sacramento first team selection as a senior fullback and linebacker at Vacaville (Calif.) High. He had 125 tackles, with 12 sacks, plus 2 interceptions, 6 forced fumbles and 4 fumble recoveries in 2002.
As a junior in 2001, he posted 85 tackles, with 8 sacks, plus 3 interceptions, 4 forced fumbles and 3 fumble recoveries on defense, and had 378 rushing yards with 4 TDs (and 1 receiving TD) on offense.
He played safety as a sophomore in 2000.
He also played baseball (hitting .430) at Vacaville.
PERSONAL: He’s a sociology major at USC.
