Thomas Williams (American football)

Thomas Williams (American football)

Infobox NFLactive
name=Thomas Williams



caption=Thomas Williams (#41) celebrates a victory with teammate Taylor 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=WIL537586

Thomas Washington Williams (born December 25, 1984 in city-state|Vacaville|California) is an American football linebacker for the Jacksonville Jaguars in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Jaguars in the fifth round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Southern California where he was a utility 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, Accessed July 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 the University 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, Accessed July 21, 2008.]

College career

Williams entered USC in the 2003 recruiting class that included Reggie Bush and LenDale 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, Accessed July 6, 2008.] Williams started 14 games at 3 different positions (including fullback) while playing college football at USC. He was all-Pac-10 honorable mention in 2007 and was invited to the East West Shrine Game and the Hula 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 the 2008 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 and Oscar 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, Accessed July 21, 2008.] During his redshirt 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, Accessed July 6, 2008.] Early in the 2004 season, Williams was nicknamed "The Hitman" by coach Pete 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, Accessed July 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, Accessed July 6, 2008.] During the 2006 season, when the Trojans fullbacks were decimated by injury, members of the offense such as Ryan Kalil, Sam Baker and John 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, Accessed July 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, Accessed July 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, Accessed July 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, Accessed July 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, Accessed July 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, Accessed July 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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