Regained the starting middle linebacker position after redshirting last year to completely rehabilitate both his shoulders after offseason surgery … saw action in two games … had a great offseason and is ready to have a strong finish to his career … coaching staff will be counting on him for leadership … a defensive playmaker … tough, physical linebacker who is very smart … selected an “Iron Mountaineer” by his teammates because of his hard work and dedication during the offseason lifting and conditioning program … also used on special teams … 2007 first team ESPN the Magazine Academic All-American … Athletic Director’s Academic Honor Roll ... Dean’s List … BIG EAST Academic All-Star … previous bowl trips: 2006 Sugar, 2007 Gator, 2008 Fiesta, 2008 Car Care.
2008 (Sr.): Played in two games but was forced to redshirt … collected 17 tackles, including two for loss, a pass breakup and an interception … registered six tackles, a pass breakup and an interception he returned for 11 yards at Colorado … collected 11 tackles, including five solo stops and two tackles for loss against Marshall.
2007 (Jr.): Tostitos Fiesta Bowl Defensive Player of the Game … started all 13 games … awarded the Ideal Mountaineer Man Award by the coaching staff … had a left elbow sprain early in preseason practice and was hampered by it for six weeks … collected nine tackles, including seven solo stops, two tackles for loss, a sack and a forced fumble against Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl … collegefootballnews.com’s All-Bowl Team … defensive champion: Western Michigan, Rutgers … Hammer Award: Western Michigan … five or more tackles in 12 games … led the team with 107 tackles, including 48 solo stops … had three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and an interception for the season … scored a touchdown on a fumble recovery against Connecticut … tied for No. 6 in BIG EAST Conference in tackles per game … double-figure tackles three times … season-high 15 tackles, a forced fumble and two tackles for loss at Marshall … posted 13 tackles, including seven solo stops at Rutgers … tallied 11 tackles against Pitt … nine tackles at Maryland … eight tackles and a fumble recovery against Connecticut … seven tackles, assisted on a tackle for loss and forced a fumble against Mississippi State … seven solo tackles, a tackle for loss and a pass breakup at USF.
2006 (So.): Rotated with Bobby Hathaway at strong-side linebacker ... a tackle and a pass deflection vs. Eastern Washington ... recovered two Maryland fumbles ... six tackles vs. the Terps ... forced a fumble, five tackles and a pass breakup in a strong performance at East Carolina ... three tackles in win at Mississippi State ... five stops vs. Syracuse ... team-best nine tackles at Connecticut ... suffered a shoulder stinger against Cincinnati ... forced two Bearcat fumbles and had a pair of sacks in the win ... two sacks and six tackles in win at Pitt ... seven-yard sack against USF ... six tackles against Rutgers ... seven tackles in the Gator Bowl win ... defensive champion: East Carolina, Pitt ... hammer award: Connecticut, Cincinnati ... Ideal Mountaineer Man Award from WVU coaches.
2005 (Fr.): Saw significant action on special teams as a true freshman ... two tackles in Wofford win.
Prep: Captain of the all-state defense at Moorefield High for Coach Brian Powell ... Cumberland Times-News defensive player of year ... helped the Yellowjackets to state titles in 2001 and 2003, a runner-up finish in 2002 and the state semifinals in 2004 ... averaged 130 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 26 catches per year and 32.8 yards as a punter ... team was 45-8 during his career ... all-area and all-Potomac Valley ... outstanding in basketball and baseball as well ... class valedictorian, National Honor Society, Student Council, national science award.
Personal: Birthday is Jan. 8 ... son of Robert and Jacqueline Williams ... one of three children ... majoring in accounting.
