Jimmy F. Williams

Infobox NFLactive
name =Jimmy Williams
currentteam =Free Agent
currentnumber =--
currentposition =Defensive back


birthdate =birth date and age|1984|3|8
birthplace =Hampton, Virginia
heightft =6
heightin =2
weight =206
debutyear =2006
debutteam =Atlanta Falcons
college =Virginia Tech
draftyear =2006
draftround =2
draftpick =37
pastteams =
* Atlanta Falcons (2006-2007)
status =Suspended
highlights =
* 2005 All-American
nfl =WIL363648

James Franklin Williams Jr. (born March 8, 1984 in Hampton, Virginia) is an American football cornerback who is currently a free agent. He was drafted in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons. He played college football at Virginia Tech.

High school

Attended Bethel High School as a senior, playing for head coach Tracy Parker. Spent his previous three seasons playing football for coach Mike Smith at 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. Earned All-Peninsula District honors as a junior and senior, adding first-team honors in 2001. Selected 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

Williams entered Virginia Tech during the Alternate links|2002 Virginia Tech Hokies football team|2002 NCAA Division I-A football season|title=2002 season as a free safety. He played sparingly his first year, backing up All-American Willie Pile.

In Alternate links|2003 Virginia Tech Hokies football team|2003 NCAA Division I-A football season|title=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. [cite web|url=http://www.techsideline.com/football/2004/games/wakerecap.htm|title=Virginia Tech 17, Wake Forest 10|date=2004-10-09|last=Stewart|first=Will|publisher=techsideline.com] Against North Carolina, Williams intercepted a pass from Darian Durant just before halftime that set up a Hokies field goal. [cite web|url=http://www.techsideline.com/football/2004/games/uncrecap.htm|title=Virginia Tech 27, North Carolina 24|date=2004-11-06|last=Stewart|first=Will|publisher=techsideline.com]

During his senior year at Tech, Williams was a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award [cite web|url=http://www.hokiesports.com/football/recaps/20051122aaa.html|title=Williams Named Thorpe Finalist|publisher=hokiesports.com|date=2005-11-22|accessdate=2007-07-23] and a unanimous All-American. [cite web|url=http://www.hokiesports.com/football/recaps/20051220aaa.html|title=Williams Earns Unanimous All-America Honors|date=2005-12-20|accessdate=2007-07-23]

NFL career

Atlanta Falcons

Jimmy Williams was selected in the 2nd round (37th overall) of the 2006 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons. 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. [cite web|url=http://www.cbs46.com/sports/13739803/detail.html|title=Falcons' DB Williams Cited For Marijuana Possession|date=2007-07-23|accessdate=2007-07-23] Due to the NFL's personal conduct policy, he was suspended by Roger Goodell for the first 5 games of the 2008 season. [http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/Features/NFL+Features/2008/parr080408.htm] Williams was released by the Falcons on June 17, 2008. [ [http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/2008/06/17/atlanta-falcons-cut-jimmy-williams/ Atlanta Falcons Cut Jimmy Williams - FanHous - AOL Sports Blog] ]

Notes

External links

* [http://www.atlantafalcons.com/People/Players/Jimmy_Williams.aspx Atlanta Falcons profile]
* [http://www.hokiesports.com/football/players/2005/williams.html Virginia Tech profile]
* [http://www.atlantafalcons.com/News/Articles/2006/04/Draft_PC_Jimmy_Williams_43006.aspx Atlanta Falcons press conference introducing Williams]