Mario Williams

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Mario Williams
Mario Williams (right) arm wrestles Lance Cpl. Johnny R. Burra (left)
Date of birth	January 31, 1985 (age 22)
Place of birth	Richlands, North Carolina
Height	6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Weight	291 lb (132 kg)
Position(s)	DE
College	North Carolina State
NFL Draft	2006 / Round 1 / Pick 1
Stats
Statistics	NFL.com ESPN
Team(s)
2006–present	Houston Texans

Mario Williams (born January 31, 1985) is an American football defensive end for the Houston Texans franchise of the National Football League. He attended North Carolina State from 2003 to 2005. He was selected first overall by the Texans in the 2006 NFL Draft, being the first Atlantic Coast Conference player chosen as the first overall pick.

1 College career
2 NFL
3 References
4 External links

[edit] College career

While playing in the ACC under coach Chuck Amato, Williams played the defensive end position. He was a "blue chip" recruit coming out of Richlands High School, and he did not disappoint, starting at DE all three seasons. He recorded 175 tackles and 25.5 sacks in his 36 game career.

At the NFL Combine, he ran the 40 yard dash in 4.66 seconds with a 40.5 inch vertical leap, 10-foot broad jump and did 35 repetitions in the 225-pound bench press. During the 2005 season, he started 12 games, recording 62 total tackles with 24 tackles for loss, 14.5 sacks, 15 hurries, a safety and a blocked kick.^[1]

[edit] NFL

Mario Williams, Houston Texans 2006 #1 NFL Draft pick, talks shop - football and Marine Corps - with wounded warriors, Cpl. Ian Lampman and Gunnery Sgt. Kenneth Barnes.

On the eve of the 2006 NFL Draft, the Houston Texans announced that they had signed the N.C. State standout to a six-year, $54 million contract, ending speculation that Houston would draft USC running back Reggie Bush or hometown quarterback Vince Young. Texans GM Charley Casserly stated that while he believes both Reggie Bush and Vince Young will make excellent pros, the Texans chose to improve defensively. On Saturday, April 29, 2006, Mario Williams was selected as the #1 overall draft pick for the Houston Texans in the 2006 NFL draft.^[1] Back in Houston, however, many people booed as he was picked.^[2]

It has been reported that more than $26 million of the contract will be in guaranteed money, and provided that Williams lives up to performance goals listed in the contract, the deal could be worth more than $60 million all together. ESPN commentator Len Pasquarelli and others immediately criticized the decision to select Williams ahead of Bush claiming that the administration of the Houston Texans was "suffering from astigmatism".^[3]

On October 1st, 2006, Williams recorded his first sack and a half against the Miami Dolphins' Daunte Culpepper in the Texans first win of the season 17-15. Three weeks later on October 22nd, Williams sacked Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Byron Leftwich and recovered a fumble in the Texans 27-7 upset.

In the 2006 season, Mario Williams accumulated 35 Tackles, 12 assists and 4.5 sacks, and along with a forced fumble as well.