Jason Williams (American football)

For other people named Jason Williams, see Jason Williams (disambiguation).

Jason Williams

Dallas Cowboys
Career information
College:	Western Illinois
NFL draft:	2009 / round: 3 / pick: 69
Career history
Dallas Cowboys (2009 - present)
Career highlights and awards
Honorable mention All-Gateway (2006) 2x First-team All-Gateway (2007–2008) 2x AP All-American (2007–2008)
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Jason X. Williams (born April 23, 1986) is an American football linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Cowboys in the third round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He played college football at Western Illinois.

Williams ended his career at Western Illinois by setting a FCS record and tied the NCAA all-division record of 14 career forced fumbles, while at Western Illionis.

High school career

Williams was born in Chicago, Illinois and attended DuSable High School, where he helped lead his team to an undefeated record in the Chicago Public League’s Intra-City Central Conference. He rushed for 2,988 yards, threw for 3,015 and recorded 71 total touchdowns (35 rushing and 36 passing) in his career and was a two-time All-City and All-Section selection.

College career

Williams then attended Western Illinois University where he majored in Exercise science. As a true freshman in 2004 he redshirt. In 2005, he played in 10 of 11 games and recorded 23 tackles (14 solo). He also started the final two games of the season at strong safety. As a sophomore in 2006, he started all 11 games at linebacker, the only one to do so that season. He recorded 92 tackles, three sacks, three forced fumbles, one interception. He also earned All-Gateway Conference honorable mention and earned the team’s Green Beret award for his significant contributions to the kicking game.

As a junior in 2007, Williams recorded 107 tackles, eight sacks and five forced fumbles, all of which led the Gateway Conference. The five forced fumbles tied a school record, while ranking fifth in the nation. He was also named to the AFCA All-America Team, the Associated Press All-America Second-team and The Sports Network All-America Second-team, as well as being a First-team All-Gateway selection, while ranking among the nation’s top 50 defensive players in tackles for loss, total tackles and sacks. He was also a runner-up for the Gateway Defensive Player of the Year Award. He was also named the team’s defensive MVP at the teams annual awards banquet.

As a senior in 2008, Williams was named to Lindy's pre-season All-America First-team and the Consensus Draft Services All-America Second-team. He was also one of three linebacks named to The Sporting News' pre-season FCS All-America team. He was also named to Phil Steele's pre-season All-America First-team. For the season, Williams recorded 67 tackles (39 solo), 14.5 tackles-for-losses and led the nation with a school-record six forced fumbles. He finished fourth in the Buck Buchanan award voting. He was also named to the Associated Press All-America First-team, the Sports Network All-America First-team and the College Sporting News All-Ameerica team. He also became the first player in school history to earn repeated AFCA All-America honors, he was also named the team's Defensive MVP and played in the East-West Shrine Game.

Williams ended his career by setting a FCS record and tied the NCAA all-division record of 14 career forced fumbles. While at Western Illionis, he recorded a career total of 289 tackles, 15.0 sacks, 45 tackles-for-loss, 14 forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, 12 pass breakups, one interception and a blocked kick while starting 35-of-43 games.

Professional career

Pre-draft

Williams was not invited to participate at the 2009 NFL Scouting Combine, however he did take part in Northwestern University's Pro Day.

Pre-draft measureables
Ht.	Wt.	40-yard dash	10-yd split	20-yd split	20 ss	3-cone	Vert	Broad	BP
6'1"*	241 lb.*	4.49*	1.49*	2.59*	x*	x*	39"*	10' 9"*	26*

(* represents Northwestern Pro Day)

Dallas Cowboys

Williams was selected in the third round (69th overall) of the 2009 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys, the team's first overall selection in that years draft. He signed with the team on July 29.

As a rookie, it is expected that Williams will play mostly on special teams as well as compete for the nickel and dime linebacker role. On September 2 it was reported that he would miss four to six weeks with a sprained ankle.

External links

• Dallas Cowboys bio
• Western Illinois Leathernecks bio

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