Derrick Williams

[edit] Biography

History’s rarest athletes have been defined by both the physical and mental gifts to meet and then exceed the hype that precedes them. Hailed as the nation’s top recruit and a difference maker when he bypassed more than 50 Division I offers to “go somewhere (I) can have an impact,” Derrick Williams did just that in helping ignite a team that would go 11-1 and claim Big Ten and Orange Bowl titles in his freshman campaign. Playing flanker, slot, tailback and return man, Williams’ speed and athleticism spurred an evolution in what became a potent Penn State offense while his contagious confidence helped restore the swagger bred of championship football. Earning a starting berth from game one, he excelled under pressure (hauling in a 36-yard game-winning TD with 51 seconds remaining at Northwestern), delivered in big games (scoring a pair of TDs in a 44-14 romp over Minnesota) and shined on the brightest stage (scoring Penn State’s first TD in a 17-10 win over Ohio State before a national TV audience and a throbbing Beaver Stadium). His cool maturity and engaging personality prompted Joe Paterno to set aside a long-standing rule preventing freshmen from speaking to the media (Williams met the press prior to the season) and he won the respect of teammates for his work ethic and team-first demeanor grounded in an affinity for the “old school.” Posting six plays of 20 yards or more from scrimmage and averaging 11.7 yards per touch, he struck fear in opponents both running and receiving but also won praise for his terrific downfield blocking. He was leading the team with 22 catches for 289 yards and a touchdown and had 22 carries for 105 yards and three touchdowns when he broke his arm on his 13th kickoff return of the season (21.1-yard average) at Michigan. The injury ended a brilliant debut for The Sporting News Freshman All-Big Ten team selection seven games into the 2005 season. But, Williams gained more than just an eight-inch scar on the back of his left triceps. He used the time on the sidelines, which he called one of the “most depressing” of his life, to learn to better read coverages, refine his film watching and fine tune his ability to see things before they happen. All of which once again will make The Sporting News preseason second-team All-Big Ten pick one of the most dangerous offensive players in the nation and a catalyst for the Nittany Lion attack. On December 22, 2004, one day after Joe Paterno’s birthday, the vastly talented young man with a big smile announced on ESPNews that he would become a Nittany Lion. In January 2005 he joined another prep All-American, Justin King, and Francis Claude, in enrolling at the University. Blessed with tremendous speed, ability and instincts, Williams is a hard-working and driven student-athlete with his sights set on helping Penn State capture another national championship. The former Eleanor Roosevelt HS All-American is one of nine returning Nittany Lions who played prep football in metropolitan Washington, D.C.

2005 Freshman Season Williams made an immediate impact when he joined the Nittany Lions for the 2005 spring semester. While he was sidelined for Penn State’s final five games (including the Orange Bowl) after breaking his left arm while returning a kickoff late in the game at Michigan, Williams’ speed, athleticism and winning persona jump-started Penn State’s drive to the Big Ten Championship and helped diversify what developed into a very potent offense. Selected to The Sporting News Freshman All-Big Ten team, he had six plays of 20 yards or more and averaged 11.7 yards on his 57 touches. Williams lined up at wideout, flanker and in the backfield and demonstrated his ability to beat teams running and receiving. No play was bigger than his first career touchdown, a game-winning 36-yard catch and run with 51 seconds remaining at Northwestern that gave Penn State a 34-29 come-from-behind victory. The electrifying connection from Michael Robinson was one of five finalists for the “Pontiac Game Changing Play-of-the-Year.” He also returned three kickoffs for 78 yards, highlighted by a 33-yard return in the first quarter, and had 42 yards on two catches against the Wildcats. At the time of his injury, he was the Lions’ leading receiver with 22 catches for 289 yards and one touchdown. He also had 22 carries for 105 yards and three touchdowns and returned 13 kickoffs for a 21.1-yard average. Despite missing the last five contests, he accumulated 668 all-purpose yards to rank fourth on the squad. A starter in the initial seven games, Williams ran for Penn State’s first two touchdowns (improvising on a 13-yard TD on an option pitch and scoring on a five-yard reverse) in the 44-14 win over Minnesota. He electrified the prime time Beaver Stadium throng when he turned the corner and bolted 13 yards for Penn State’s first score in the huge 17-10 win over Ohio State. He made a season-high six receptions for 59 yards, returned two kickoffs for 22 yards and ran for eight yards before his injury at Michigan. Against Cincinnati, he pulled in four catches for a team-leading 60 yards (including a 41-yard grab), gained 23 yards on three carries with a 20-yard long and returned three kickoffs for 61 yards, including a 26-yarder. Against Central Michigan, he caught two passes for 47 yards, including a 33-yarder, and returned two kickoffs for 62 yards, including a season-best return of 56 yards. Williams was on the field for 387 snaps over the initial seven games, led by 69 at Northwestern.

High School Williams fashioned a tremendous career for Coach Rick Houchens at Eleanor Roosevelt HS in suburban Washington, D.C. He was a consensus All-American and was named the Rivals.com and G&W Recruiting Report National Player-of-the-Year. An All-USA Today selection, Williams also was an All-Met choice by the Washington Post. Parade magazine honored him as an All-American as an all-purpose player. During his senior season of 2004, Williams was 56-of-91 for 972 yards and 13 touchdown passes, ran for 1,123 yards and 12 touchdowns and caught 11 passes for 203 yards and two more scores. He also accumulated 479 punt return yards and added another score. As a defensive back, he had four interceptions and 34 tackles. In his junior year, he rushed for 1,350 yards and 28 touchdowns and threw for 700 yards and five scores. Williams also recorded 46 tackles, 13 pass breakups, three interceptions and three fumble recoveries in 2003. He also gained 760 return yards. In 2004, Williams was the subject of a series of stories in the Washington Post on his senior season and recruitment. Williams also was an accomplished sprinter on the track and field squad.

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