- Thomas Williams (American football)
Infobox NFLactive
name=Thomas Williams
caption=Thomas Williams (#41) celebrates a victory with teammateTaylor Mays (#2)
currentteam=Jacksonville Jaguars
currentnumber=53
currentposition=Linebacker
birthdate=birth date and age|1984|12|25
birthplace=Vacaville, California
heightft=6
heightin=1
weight=225
debutyear=
debutteam=
college=Southern California
draftyear=2008
draftround=5
draftpick=155
pastteams=
*Jacksonville Jaguars (2008-present)
status=Active
highlights=
*No notable career achievements
nfl=WIL537586Thomas Washington Williams (born
December 25 ,1984 in city-state|Vacaville|California) is anAmerican football linebacker for theJacksonville Jaguars in theNational Football League . He was drafted by the Jaguars in the fifth round of the2008 NFL Draft . He playedcollege football at Southern California where he was autility player .Gary Klein, [http://articles.latimes.com/2007/dec/29/sports/sp-usc29 USC’s Williams has everyone’s back] , "Los Angeles Times",December 29 ,2007 , AccessedJuly 6 ,2008 .]Early years
Williams prepped at Vacaville High School. When it came to deciding where to attend college, his final choices were
University of Notre Dame and theUniversity of Southern California . Finding them equals in many areas; Williams decided on USC due in part to the diversity of the Los Angeles area as well as the career networking, as he was uncertain he would be able to eventually move on to the NFL.LQ Singian, [http://www.wearesc.com/news/story.php?article=1161 Exit Interview: Thomas Williams] , WeAreSC.com,July 21 ,2008 , AccessedJuly 21 ,2008 .]College career
Williams entered USC in the 2003 recruiting class that included
Reggie Bush andLenDale White .Gary Klein, [http://articles.latimes.com/2007/dec/29/sports/sp-usc29 USC’s Williams has everyone’s back] , "Los Angeles Times",December 29 ,2007 , AccessedJuly 6 ,2008 .] Williams started 14 games at 3 different positions (including fullback) while playingcollege football at USC. He was all-Pac-10 honorable mention in 2007 and was invited to theEast West Shrine Game and theHula Bowl . Williams career stats include, 74 tackles, 1 sack, 3 fumbles forced, 5 passes defensed, 5 tackles for loss, 3 interceptions, and 37 interception return yards. In 2007 Williams had 56 tackles. He had 6 tackles in the2008 Rose Bowl .During his time with the Trojans, Williams received guidance and feedback from veteran linebackers such as
Lofa Tatupu ,Matt Grootegoed ,Dallas Sartz ,Collin Ashton andOscar Lua . In order to see more playing time against the more experienced linebackers ahead of him, Williams focused and excelled at special teams play, particularly kickoff coverage.LQ Singian, [http://www.wearesc.com/news/story.php?article=1161 Exit Interview: Thomas Williams] , WeAreSC.com,July 21 ,2008 , AccessedJuly 21 ,2008 .] During hisredshirt freshman year he was an active member of the 2004 National Championship team, where he played behind Sartz at the strong-side spot.Gary Klein, [http://articles.latimes.com/2007/dec/29/sports/sp-usc29 USC’s Williams has everyone’s back] , "Los Angeles Times",December 29 ,2007 , AccessedJuly 6 ,2008 .] Early in the 2004 season, Williams was nicknamed "The Hitman" by coachPete Carroll for his performance on special teams; the name stuck with him for his career at USC.LQ Singian, [http://www.wearesc.com/news/story.php?article=1161 Exit Interview: Thomas Williams] , WeAreSC.com,July 21 ,2008 , AccessedJuly 21 ,2008 .]During the 2005 season, Williams again backed up Sartz, but moved into the starting lineup for six games after Sartz suffered a shoulder injury; he also started twice in the middle and learned the weak-side responsibilities as well.Gary Klein, [http://articles.latimes.com/2007/dec/29/sports/sp-usc29 USC’s Williams has everyone’s back] , "Los Angeles Times",
December 29 ,2007 , AccessedJuly 6 ,2008 .] During the 2006 season, when the Trojans fullbacks were decimated by injury, members of the offense such asRyan Kalil , Sam Baker andJohn David Booty , asked him to switch positions to fullback, a position he had played in high school.LQ Singian, [http://www.wearesc.com/news/story.php?article=1161 Exit Interview: Thomas Williams] , WeAreSC.com,July 21 ,2008 , AccessedJuly 21 ,2008 .] Thus Williams started twice at fullback and played several games that season on both offense and defense.Gary Klein, [http://articles.latimes.com/2007/dec/29/sports/sp-usc29 USC’s Williams has everyone’s back] , "Los Angeles Times",December 29 ,2007 , AccessedJuly 6 ,2008 .] Over the years, Williams played all three linebacker positions.LQ Singian, [http://www.wearesc.com/news/story.php?article=1161 Exit Interview: Thomas Williams] , WeAreSC.com,July 21 ,2008 , AccessedJuly 21 ,2008 .] Williams teammates voted him the team’s most inspirational player in the 2007 season; he finished the regular season as the third-leading tackler among linebackers with 3½ tackles for losses, an interception and two forced fumbles on a defense that ranked second nationally.Gary Klein, [http://articles.latimes.com/2007/dec/29/sports/sp-usc29 USC’s Williams has everyone’s back] , "Los Angeles Times",December 29 ,2007 , AccessedJuly 6 ,2008 .]Thomas graduated from USC in May 2008 with a degree in Sociology.LQ Singian, [http://www.wearesc.com/news/story.php?article=1161 Exit Interview: Thomas Williams] , WeAreSC.com,
July 21 ,2008 , AccessedJuly 21 ,2008 .]Professional career
Pre-draft
Williams was invited to the NFL Combine.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Williams was selected 155th overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2008 NFL draft; he was the first person from his high school to be drafted in the NFL since
Vince Newsome was drafted 97th overall in the 1983.Matt Miller, [http://www.thereporter.com/sports/ci_9082635 Big draft day for local football talent] , "The Reporter", April 28, 2008, "Accessed April 28, 2008."] Williams signed a four-year contract with the Jaguars that included $174,500 signing bonus to go along with the $1.7 million contract. [http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/2008-07-14-2047420426_x.htm Jaguars sign rookie linebacker Thomas Williams] , Associated Press, AccessedJuly 21 ,2008 .]References
External links
* [http://www.jaguars.com/Team/Player.aspx?id=2790 Jacksonville Jaguars bio]
* [http://www.yardbarker.com/users/thomaswilliams Thomas Williams Official Blog on Yardbarker]
* [http://usctrojans.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/williams_thomas00.html USC Trojans bio]
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