D. J. Williams (tight end)

D.J. Williams

refer to caption

Williams with the Packers in 2012
No. -- Free agent
Position: Tight end
Personal information
Date of birth: (1988-09-10) September 10, 1988
Place of birth: Fort Worth, Texas
Height: 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight: 245 lb (111 kg)
Career information
High school: North Little Rock (AR) Central Arkansas
College: Arkansas
NFL Draft: 2011 / Round: 5 / Pick: 141
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of 2014
Receptions: 9
Receiving yards: 70
Receiving average: 7.8
Receiving TDs: 0
Player stats at NFL.com

David Edward "D. J." Williams Jr (born September 10, 1988) is an American football tight end that is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers out of University of Arkansas in the fifth round (141st pick overall) in the 2011 NFL Draft.

High school career

Williams attended Central Arkansas Christian High School, where his initial athletic interest was Basketball. He was encouraged to try football by high school coach Tim Perry. DJ was named all-state after his senior season, and was considered a four star recruit by most recruiting services. [1]

College career

Williams played college football for the Arkansas Razorbacks. He was long considered a competitor for the 2010 John Mackey Award which is awarded to the nation's most outstanding tight end, along with Lance Kendricks and Michael Egnew.[2] On December 9, 2010 it was announced that DJ was the 2010 John Mackey Award recipient at the 2010 Home Depot College Football Awards Red Carpet show on ESPNU. He also won the 2010 Disney Spirit Award as college football's most inspirational player. DJ was named to the 2010 1st Team All-SEC squad by the coaches and the AP, after amassing 54 receptions for 627 yards and 4 TD for a Razorbacks team that finished 10-3 after a loss to Ohio St in the Sugar Bowl. Arkansas won the Liberty Bowl over East Carolina in his junior year of 2009, finishing with a record of 8-5.[3]

Professional career

Green Bay Packers

Williams was considered one of the best tight end prospects for the 2011 NFL Draft.[4] Williams was selected in the fifth round, with the 141st overall pick, by the Green Bay Packers.[5]

Williams was released by the Packers on August 31, 2013.[6]

Jacksonville Jaguars

Williams was claimed off waivers by the Jacksonville Jaguars on September 1, 2013.

He was released by the Jaguars on November 4, 2013.[7]

New England Patriots

On November 26, 2013, he was signed by the New England Patriots.

On December 4, 2013, he was waived by the New England Patriots.

Williams re-signed with the Patriots on December 9, 2013, after a season-ending injury to starting tight end Rob Gronkowski.[8]

On August 21, 2014, Williams was released by the Patriots.[9]

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Williams signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on November 25, 2014.[10] He was waived on December 2.[11]

Washington Redskins

On August 16, 2015, the Washington Redskins signed Williams.[12] On September 4, he was waived with an injury settlement for final roster cuts before the start of the regular season.[13]

Career Statistics

Year Team Games Receptions Targets Yards Average Receiving Yards Longest Reception Receiving Touchdowns First Downs Fumbles Fumbles Lost
2011 GB 13 2 4 13 6.5 7 0 0 0 0
2012 GB 13 7 15 57 8.1 12 0 3 0 0
Total Total 35 9 21 70 7.8 12 0 3 0 0

[14]

Personal life

Williams is a member of Pleasant Valley Church of Christ in Little Rock, AR. Although like other students Williams could have cited many accolades, he chose this statement alone to appear with his picture in the yearbook: "Baptized into Christ." Williams has cited the Passion of the Christ as exemplifying the way he and his mother, Vicky Williams, and his two sisters overcame his abusive father and other challenges, including on the football field. DJ was working as a co-host on the morning show at Little Rock NBC affiliate television station KARK channel 4, when he was called by the Washington Redskins to join the team during their 2015 pre-season camp. Since he was cut before the regular season began, Williams is expected to return to KARK.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 Harris, Hamil; Tryggestad, Erik (February 2011). "'You have to find some way to stand back up': Abuse and struggle defined D.J. Williams' childhood, but the scholar-athlete and church member endured—and lives by faith". Christian Chronicle. 68 (2). pp. 18–19. Retrieved 2011-01-04. The article also describes the situation cited on the ESPN broadcast of the Sugar Bowl Game; with 58 seconds remaining in the third quarter, ESPNHD announcer Holly Rowe described how, on a night after Vickie Williams' husband beat her, Vickie Williams spread a map on the table in front of her children, and little D. J. pointed to Little Rock, Arkansas, as the place to which they should move to get away from his father. The Christian Chronicle article cites that within 24 hours D. J.'s alcohol-plagued father had been arrested for an unrelated crime. In 2011 D. J.'s father remains incarcerated for assault on a public servant, and D. J. has had no conversation with him in many years. In the Christian Chronicle article (p. 19), D. J. says: "I pray every day to be able to forgive him."
  2. ↑ "Hogs' Williams finalist for Mackey Award". ESPN College Football. 2010-11-22. Retrieved 2011-01-04.
  3. ↑ "D. J. Williams wins spirit award". Central Arkansas Christian. 2010-11-19. Archived from the original on 2011-07-25. Retrieved 2011-01-04.
  4. ↑ "D.J. Williams, DS #1 TE, Arkansas". NFLDraftScout.com. December 19, 2010. Retrieved January 4, 2011.
  5. ↑ "Packers Draft Arkansas TE D.J. Williams in Fifth Round". Green Bay Packers. April 30, 2011. Retrieved April 30, 2011.
  6. ↑ http://www.packersnews.com/article/20130831/PKR0101/130831010/D-J-Williams-tweets-he-s-been-released
  7. ↑ http://espn.go.com/blog/jacksonville-jaguars/post/_/id/1850/jags-add-wr-to-replace-blackmon
  8. ↑ Patriots re-sign TE D.J. Williams; TE Rob Gronkowski placed on injured reserve
  9. ↑ Patriots release DL Marcus Forston and TE D.J. Williams
  10. ↑ Alper, Josh (November 25, 2014). "Buccaneers add two tight ends". NBCSports.com. Retrieved 2015-08-15.
  11. ↑ Smith, Scott (December 2, 2014). "Bucs Bring Rookie Patton Back". Buccaneers.com. Retrieved 2015-08-15.
  12. ↑ Walker, Andrew (August 16, 2015). "Redskins Sign Tight Ends D.J. Williams And Ernst Brun". Redskins.com. Retrieved 2015-08-15.
  13. ↑ Jones, Mike (September 4, 2015). "Redskins begin making final roster cuts". WashingtonPost.com. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
  14. ↑ "D.J. Williams Stats". ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
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