Jimmy Williams (cornerback, born 1984)

Last updated

Jimmy Williams
Jimmy Williams Virginia Tech.jpg
Williams while playing for Virginia Tech
No. 24
Position: Cornerback
Personal information
Born: (1984-03-08) March 8, 1984 (age 40)
Hampton, Virginia, U.S.
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:216 lb (98 kg)
Career information
High school: Hampton (VA) Bethel
College: Virginia Tech
NFL draft: 2006  / Round: 2 / Pick: 37
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles:48
Pass deflections:3
Interceptions:1
Player stats at ArenaFan.com

James Franklin Williams, Jr. (born March 8, 1984) is a former American football cornerback who previously played for the Atlanta Falcons and San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for Virginia Tech, and was recognized as a unanimous All-American. He was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft, but was later suspended for violating the NFL's banned substances policy.

Contents

Early years

Williams was born in Hampton, Virginia. As a child, he played for the Hampton Tornados in a youth football league. He attended Bethel High School as a senior, playing for the Bethel Bruins high school football team. He played the previous three seasons playing for Hampton High School, winning a state championship in 1998. Williams was known for his versatility during his prep career, competing at quarterback, safety, wide receiver and outside linebacker. He earned All-Peninsula District honors as a junior and senior, adding first-team honors in 2001, and was elected to the Newport News Daily Press All-Star team as a senior. In his final season, he collected over 100 tackles with two sacks and intercepted seven passes, returning two for touchdowns as a safety and outside linebacker. On offense, he compiled over 1,000 yards of total offense as a quarterback, passing for five touchdowns and rushing for six. He also returned punts and kicks.

College career

Williams enrolled at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, where he played for coach Frank Beamer's Virginia Tech Hokies football team as a free safety from 2002 to 2005. He played sparingly his first year, backing up All-American Willie Pile.

In 2003 season, Williams moved into the starting job, and scored his first career touchdown, taking a 55-yard interception to the endzone against Rutgers.

In the Hokies' 2004 ACC championship season, Williams moved from safety to cornerback and played a critical role in two close games. In a 17-10 win against Wake Forest, Williams intercepted a Matt Mauk pass in Hokie territory and returned it to midfield to set up a Tech scoring drive. On Wake's final drive of the game, Williams broke up a pass in the endzone on third down that would have tied the game and potentially sent it into overtime. [1] Against North Carolina, Williams intercepted a pass from Darian Durant just before halftime that set up a Hokies field goal. [2]

During his senior year at Tech, Williams was a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award [3] and a unanimous first-team All-American. [4] Williams nickname during his senior year at Tech was called "the trash talker supreme".

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeight 40-yard dash 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 2+38 in
(1.89 m)
213 lb
(97 kg)
4.44 s4.15 s6.69 s33.0 in
(0.84 m)
9 ft 6 in
(2.90 m)
12 reps
All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day [5]

Atlanta Falcons

Williams was drafted in the second round (37th overall) of the 2006 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons. [6] In his rookie season with the Falcons, Williams started five games and made 24 tackles.

On June 2, 2007, Williams was cited in Richmond, Virginia for possession of marijuana during the 2007 offseason. [7] Due to the NFL's personal conduct policy, he was suspended by Roger Goodell for the first five games of the 2008 season. [8] Williams was released by the Falcons on June 17, 2008. [9] He served the five-game suspension as a free agent and was not signed the rest of the year.

San Francisco 49ers

After spending the 2008 season out of football, Williams was signed to a future contract by the San Francisco 49ers on January 22, 2009.

Williams has been suspended for at least one year for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy,

Spokane Shock

On January 6, 2014, Williams was assigned to the Spokane Shock of the Arena Football League. He was placed on Injured Reserve on March 14, 2014. Williams was released from injured reserve on June 5, 2014.

New Orleans VooDoo

On March 6, 2015, Williams was traded to the New Orleans VooDoo for future considerations.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DeAngelo Hall</span> American football player (born 1983)

DeAngelo Eugene Hall is an American professional football coach and former player who was a defensive back for 14 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Virginia Tech Hokies and was selected by the Atlanta Falcons with the eighth overall pick in the 2004 NFL draft. Hall played half a season for the Oakland Raiders before being released and signed by the Washington Redskins in 2008, playing for them until retiring following the 2017 season. He was a cornerback for the majority of his career before playing at free safety during his last few seasons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antrel Rolle</span> American football player (born 1982)

Antrel Rocelious Rolle is an American former professional football cornerback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Miami Hurricanes, earning unanimous All-American honors. He was selected by the Arizona Cardinals with the eighth overall pick in the 2005 NFL draft. Rolle also played for the Chicago Bears and New York Giants, winning Super Bowl XLVI with New York in 2011 over the New England Patriots.

Aaron Bruce Beasley is a former American college and professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) for nine seasons. He played college football for West Virginia University, and received consensus All-American recognition. He was drafted in the third round of the 1996 NFL Draft, and played professionally for the Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Jets and Atlanta Falcons of the NFL.

Willie Marquis Pile is a former American football safety in the National Football League (NFL) for the Kansas City Chiefs and Dallas Cowboys. He also played in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for the Toronto Argonauts. He played college football at Virginia Tech.

James David Druckenmiller, Jr. is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Virginia Tech Hokies. Druckenmiller was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the first round of the 1997 NFL draft with the 26th overall pick. In his career, he played in the NFL for the 49ers, Miami Dolphins, and Indianapolis Colts, as well as the Memphis Maniax of the XFL and the Los Angeles Avengers of the Arena Football League (AFL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pierson Prioleau</span> American football player and coach (born 1977)

Pierson Olin Prioleau [PEER-sun PRAY-low] is a former American football safety. He was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the fourth round of the 1999 NFL Draft. He played college football at Virginia Tech and is currently on the coaching staff. He received a degree from Virginia Tech in interdisciplinary studies, graduating on May 14, 2011. Pierson served as the director of player development - defense under Justin Fuente at Virginia Tech from 2019 to 2021. Upon the hiring of Brent Pry as the new head coach for the Hokies, Pierson was promoted to an on-field position as the safeties coach, replacing fellow Hokie Justin Hamilton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marcus Hudson</span> American football player (born 1982)

Marcus Hudson is a former American football defensive back. He was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the sixth round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college football at North Carolina State.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dashon Goldson</span> American football player (born 1984)

Dashon Hugh Goldson is a former safety in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Washington Huskies, and was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the fourth round of the 2007 NFL draft. He also played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Redskins, and Atlanta Falcons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brandon Flowers (American football)</span> American football player (born 1986)

Brandon Lavar Flowers is a former American football cornerback. He played college football at Virginia Tech, and was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the second round of the 2008 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Macho Harris</span> American football player (born 1986)

Victor "Macho" Harris, Jr. is a former football defensive back. He played college football at Virginia Tech and was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fifth round of the 2009 NFL Draft. Harris was also a member of the Washington Redskins and the Pittsburgh Steelers of the NFL and the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League (CFL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Moore (American football)</span> American football player (born 1985)

William Moore is an American former professional football player who spent his entire seven-year career as a safety with the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Missouri Tigers. He was chosen by the Falcons in the second round of the 2009 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kam Chancellor</span> American football player (born 1988)

Kameron Darnel Chancellor, nicknamed "Bam Bam Kam", is an American former professional football safety who spent his entire nine-year career with the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Virginia Tech Hokies prior to being selected by the Seahawks in the fifth round of the 2010 NFL draft. A four-time Pro Bowler, he was one of the key members of their Legion of Boom secondary. He also helped lead the Seahawks to victory in Super Bowl XLVIII. Chancellor retired following complications from a neck injury he suffered in 2017.

Cody James Grimm is an American football coach and former safety. He previously served as an assistant coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Jacksonville Jaguars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sam Shields</span> American football player (born 1987)

Samuel George Shields III is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Miami Hurricanes. Shields was signed by the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2010. He won Super Bowl XLV with the team over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kyle Fuller</span> American football player (born 1992)

Kyle Brandon Fuller is an American football cornerback who is a free agent. He was selected by the Chicago Bears in the first round of the 2014 NFL draft and played college football at Virginia Tech.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antone Exum</span> American football player and musician (born 1991)

Antone Chavez Exum Jr., also known mononymously as Exum, is a musician and former American football safety. He played college football at Virginia Tech, and was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the sixth round of the 2014 NFL Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kendall Fuller</span> American football player (born 1995)

Kendall Christopher Fuller is an American football cornerback for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Virginia Tech and was selected by the Washington Redskins in the third round of the 2016 NFL draft. Fuller also played for the Kansas City Chiefs, recording a game-sealing interception in Super Bowl LIV.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jessie Bates</span> American football player (born 1997)

Jessie Bates III is an American football safety for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Wake Forest and was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the second round of the 2018 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A. J. Terrell</span> American football player (born 1998)

Aundell Terrell Jr. is an American football cornerback for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Clemson and was selected by the Falcons in the first round of the 2020 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caleb Farley</span> American football player (born 1998)

Caleb Ray Farley is an American football cornerback for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Virginia Tech and was drafted by the Titans in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

References

  1. Stewart, Will (October 9, 2004). "Virginia Tech 17, Wake Forest 10". techsideline.com.
  2. Stewart, Will (November 6, 2004). "Virginia Tech 27, North Carolina 24". techsideline.com.
  3. "Williams Named Thorpe Finalist". hokiesports.com. November 22, 2005. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved July 23, 2007.
  4. "Williams Earns Unanimous All-America Honors". December 20, 2005. Archived from the original on August 7, 2007. Retrieved July 23, 2007.
  5. "2006 NFL Draft Scout Jimmy Williams College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
  6. "2006 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  7. "Falcons' DB Williams Cited For Marijuana Possession". July 23, 2007. Archived from the original on August 5, 2007. Retrieved July 23, 2007.
  8. http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/Features/NFL+Features/2008/parr080408.htm [ dead link ]
  9. Atlanta Falcons Cut Jimmy Williams - FanHous - AOL Sports Blog