Biography
2019
• Earned second team All-MAC honors from league coaches.
• Named MVP of the 2019 Huskie Football Team and was selected as one of four permanent team captains.
• The Huskies’ leading tackler with career-high 88 on the year while playing in all 12 games.
• Took charge of the back seven of the NIU defense when the Huskies’ three starting linebackers went down with injury.
• Finished his NIU career with six tackles, five solo, and recovered a fumble on WMU’s (11-26) final drive to seal the NIU win.
• All five of his tackles versus Eastern Michigan (11-19) were solo stops.
• Completed a string of four double-digit tackle totals in five games with 10 stops, seven solo, at Toledo (11-13).
• Collected 12 tackles at Central Michigan (11-2), seven solo, and was in on a tackle for loss.
• Made 10 stops, seven solo and one for loss, at Miami (10-19).
• Led NIU with a career-high 14 tackles at Ohio (10-12) with half a tackle for loss.
• Contributed eight stops vs. Ball State (10-5), including a career-best two for loss, and a pass break up.
• Led NIU in tackles at Vanderbilt (9-28) with eight.
• Posted five tackles and forced a fumble at Nebraska (9-14).
• Made at least one tackle in 38 of 39 career games.
2018
• Second team All-MAC safety made career-best 75 tackles to rank third on the team in 2018.
• One of Huskies’ most consistent defenders has started 27 consecutive games with tackles in 25.
• Contributed six stops to NIU defensive effort in the MAC Championship when Huskies shut Buffalo (11-30) down for last 26 minutes of the game to claim a 30-29 comeback win.
• Recorded his second interception of the season in the Boca Raton Bowl game versus UAB (12-18) to tie for the team lead in INTs and added six tackles.
• Totaled season-high nine tackles and added a half tackle for loss, at Florida State.
• Made four tackles and broke up a pass at WMU (11-20).
• Earned MAC West Defensive Player of the Week recognition after his interception with 1:47 to play sealed the Huskies’ 7-6 win at BYU (10-27).
• Also totaled five tackles, four solo, and broke up a pass versus the Cougars in a dominating defensive performance by NIU.
• Registered six tackles with one for loss versus Ohio (10-13).
• Made seven tackles, five solo, with a tackle for loss and a pass break-up at Ball State (10-6).
• TFL came on third-and-goal from the three-yard line and saved a touchdown.
• Recorded six tackles at Eastern Michigan (9-29).
• Made seven solo stops, eight total tackles, at Iowa (9-1) in the season opener.
• Added a tackle for loss to go with eight stops versus Utah (9-8).
2017
• First-year Huskie ranked third on the team in tackles and tied for first in solo stops with 59.
• Finished 11 of 13 NIU games with at least five total tackles.
• Tied for team lead with eight tackles, seven solo, versus Western Michigan (11-15).
• Totaled five solo stops versus Duke (12-26) and Ball State (11-9).
• Tied for first on the team in pass break-ups with six after adding one against Duke (12-26).
• Five of his six stops at Bowling Green (10-21) were solo.
• Made seven tackles, all solo, at Buffalo (10-14).
• Four of his five tackles versus Kent State (10-7) were solo.
• Made six tackles with a TFL at SDSU (9-30).
• Tallied a career-high 10 stops, nine solo, in NIU’s win at Nebraska (9-16).
• Picked off a pass versus Eastern Illinois (9-9).
Prior to NIU
• Collected All-American and all-conference honors at Iowa Western in 2016.
• Recorded 106 total tackles, 76 solo and 30 assists.
• Forced four fumbles and recovered three.
• Deflected nine passes, caught four interceptions and blocked one kick.
• Signed with Notre Dame out of high school and spent the 2015 season on the Irish roster.
• Did not play in any games as a true freshman.
High School
• Three-time All-Metropolitan Interscholastic selection.
• Named Indianapolis Star Super Team Player of the Year for 2014, USA Today American Family Insurance All-USA Indiana Football Team as defensive back, 2014 Indiana Class 6A all-state team by Associated Press, Indiana Football Coaches Association Top 50 all-state team as both junior and senior in 2013 and 2014 and PrepStar All-Midwest Region squad as defensive back.
• Made 85 tackles, seven interceptions and a fumble recovery for a touchdown as senior.
• Rushed for more than 400 yards and eight touchdowns on 9-3 team in 2014.
• Competed on track team in the 100m, 200m and 4x100 relay.
Personal
• Born Sept. 2, 1996 in Indianapolis, Ind.
• Son of Meelun Johnson and Sam Williams.
• Business management major with a minor in Psychology.
WILLIAMS' SINGLE GAME CAREER GAME HIGHS
Total Tackles: 10 (Nebraska 9-16-17)
Tackles for Loss: 1 (4X) (last Ohio 10-13-18)
Interceptions: 1 (3X) (last UAB 12-18-18)
Pass Break-Ups: 1 (9X) (last: UWM 11-20-18)
