Dan Williams (defensive tackle)

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name = Dan Williams

| image = Dan Williams (defensive tackle).JPG

| caption = Williams with the Oakland Raiders in 2015

| current_team =

| number = 92, 90

| position = Defensive tackle

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1987|6|1|mf=y}}

| birth_place = Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 2

| weight_lbs = 330

| high_school = East (Memphis, Tennessee)

| college = Tennessee (2005–2009)

| draftyear = 2010

| draftround = 1

| draftpick = 26

| pastteams =

Arizona Cardinals ({{NFL Year|2010}}–{{NFL Year|2014}})
Oakland Raiders ({{NFL Year|2015}}–{{NFL Year|2016}})

| status =

| highlights =

Third-team All-American (2009)
First-team All-SEC (2009)

| statlabel1 = Total tackles

| statvalue1 = 222

| statlabel2 = Sacks

| statvalue2 = 3.5

| statlabel3 = Fumble recoveries

| statvalue3 = 2

| statlabel4 = Interceptions

| statvalue4 = 1

| statlabel5 = Defensive touchdowns

| statvalue5 = 1

| pfr = WillDa99

}}

Daniel Ellis Williams (born June 1, 1987) is an American former professional football player who was a defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the first round of the 2010 NFL draft. He played college football for the Tennessee Volunteers. He has also played for the Oakland Raiders.

Early life

Williams attended Memphis East High School in Memphis, Tennessee. As a senior, he had 132 tackles, five sacks, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

Regarded as a three-star recruit by Rivals.com, Williams was ranked as the No. 35 defensive tackle in a class highlighted by DeMarcus Granger and Callahan Bright, and that also included Ndamukong Suh and Tyson Alualu.{{Cite web |title=Rivals.com: Defensive tackles, 2005 |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/recruiting/rankings/rank-879 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305035327/http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/recruiting/rankings/rank-879 |archive-date=March 5, 2016 |access-date=April 19, 2014 |website=Rivals.com}}

College career

Williams attended the University of Tennessee from 2005 to 2009.{{Cite web |title=Dan Williams - Football |url=https://utsports.com/sports/football/roster/dan-williams/1820 |access-date=March 9, 2024 |website=University of Tennessee Athletics |language=en}} As a senior, he was a second-team All-SEC selection by the league's coaches after recording 62 tackles and two sacks.[http://www2.wrbl.com/rbl/sports/college/article/coaches_select_all-sec_team/114375/ Coaches Select All-SEC Team] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100619005447/http://www2.wrbl.com/rbl/sports/college/article/coaches_select_all-sec_team/114375 |date=June 19, 2010 }}

{{Cite web |title=Dan Williams College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/dan-williams-2.html |access-date=March 9, 2024 |website=College Football at Sports-Reference.com |language=en}}

Professional career

=Pre-draft=

After a "tremendous" senior season, Williams was projected a first-round selection by Sports Illustrated.{{Cite web |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/2010/draft/players/44174.html |title=Dan Williams - 2010 Draft Tracker - SI.com |access-date=January 30, 2013 |archive-date=April 24, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120424173306/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/2010/draft/players/44174.html |url-status=dead }} He was ranked the third best defensive tackle available in the 2010 NFL draft, behind only Ndamukong Suh and Gerald McCoy.{{Cite web |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/2010/draft/breakdowns/by_position/DT.html |title=View Draft by Positions - 2010 Draft Tracker - SI.com |access-date=January 30, 2013 |archive-date=November 13, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121113062619/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/2010/draft/breakdowns/by_position/DT.html |url-status=dead }}

{{NFL predraft

| height ft = 6

| height in = 2

| weight = 327

| dash = 5.19

| ten split = 1.75

| twenty split = 2.96

| shuttle = 4.87

| cone drill = 7.88

| vertical = 32

| broad ft = 8

| broad in = 0

| bench = 27

| wonderlic =

| arm span = 33+1/2

| hand span = 10+1/8

| note = All values from NFL Combine{{cite web | url=http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=72899&draftyear=2010&genpos=dt | title=Hall of Football }}

}}

=Arizona Cardinals=

Williams was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the first round with the 26th overall pick in the 2010 NFL draft.{{Cite web |title=2010 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2010/draft.htm |access-date=May 13, 2023 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=April 22, 2010 |title=Cardinals take Dan Williams 26th overall |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/cardinals-take-dan-williams-26th-overall |access-date=March 9, 2024 |website=NBC Sports |language=en-US}} He signed a 5-year, $10.335 million contract on August 2, 2010.{{Cite web|url=http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/arizona-cardinals/dan-williams/|title=Dan Williams}} As a rookie Williams played in 15 games totaling 37 tackles and had two passes defended.{{Cite web |title=Dan Williams 2010 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WillDa99/gamelog/2010/ |access-date=March 9, 2024 |website=Pro Football Reference}} In 2011, Williams was the starting Nose Tackle. In his first career start against Carolina, Williams led the defensive line with 4 solo tackles including 1 for a loss. On November 20, 2011, in the 4th quarter against San Francisco, Williams broke his arm and was placed on injured reserve ending his season. Williams finished the season playing in 10 games (starting all 10), totaling 20 tackles, and 2 passes defended.{{Cite web |title=Dan Williams 2011 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WillDa99/gamelog/2011/ |access-date=March 9, 2024 |website=Pro Football Reference}} He appeared in 15 games with 11 starts in 2012 with 41 tackles on the season.{{Cite web |title=Dan Williams 2012 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WillDa99/gamelog/2012/ |access-date=March 9, 2024 |website=Pro Football Reference}} On September 8, 2013, Williams intercepted a pass from Sam Bradford and returned it two yards for a touchdown.{{Cite web |last=Strauss |first=Joe |date=September 15, 2013 |title=Strauss: Bradford has become Rams' closer |url=https://www.stltoday.com/sports/football/professional/strauss-bradford-has-become-rams-closer/article_c0996f66-5c97-5121-a082-ad0d6c946f19.html |access-date=March 9, 2024 |website=STLtoday.com |language=en}} On September 21, 2013, his father died in a car accident, driving to New Orleans to see his son play.{{Cite web |last=Wilson |first=Ryan |date=September 22, 2013 |title=Father of Cardinals NT Dan Williams killed while driving to game |url=http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/23784838/father-of-cardinals-nt-dan-williams-killed-while-driving-to-game |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130926223923/http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/23784838/father-of-cardinals-nt-dan-williams-killed-while-driving-to-game |archive-date=September 26, 2013 |website=CBSSports.com |access-date=March 9, 2024}} In the 2013 season, Williams finished with one sack, 23 total tackles, one interception, and three passes defended.{{Cite web |title=Dan Williams 2013 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WillDa99/gamelog/2013/ |access-date=March 9, 2024 |website=Pro Football Reference}} In the 2014 season, Williams appeared in all 16 games and started nine. He finished with one sack, 32 total tackles, and one pass defended.{{Cite web |title=Dan Williams 2014 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WillDa99/gamelog/2014/ |access-date=March 9, 2024 |website=Pro Football Reference}}

=Oakland Raiders=

On March 11, 2015, Williams signed with the Oakland Raiders.{{cite web|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/raiders-pick-up-curtis-lofton-dan-williams-for-defense-0ap3000000478048|title=Raiders pick up Curtis Lofton, Dan Williams for defense|work=NFL.com|first=Gregg|last=Rosenthal|date=March 11, 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.raiders.com/news/article-1/Raiders-Sign-DT-Dan-Williams/15f2236a-8be2-4170-8943-dcd514bc6c2b|title=Raiders Sign DT Dan Williams|work=Raiders.com|date=March 11, 2015|access-date=March 12, 2015|archive-date=March 14, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150314210823/http://www.raiders.com/news/article-1/Raiders-Sign-DT-Dan-Williams/15f2236a-8be2-4170-8943-dcd514bc6c2b|url-status=dead}} In the 2015 season, Williams finished with a half-sack, 48 total tackles, one pass defended, and one fumble recovery in 16 games and 15 starts.{{Cite web |title=Dan Williams 2015 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WillDa99/gamelog/2015/ |access-date=March 9, 2024 |website=Pro Football Reference}}

In the 2016 season, Williams appeared in 16 games and started 11. He finished with 17 total tackles, one pass defended, and a half-sack.{{Cite web |title=Dan Williams 2016 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WillDa99/gamelog/2016/ |access-date=March 9, 2024 |website=Pro Football Reference}}

On April 18, 2017, the Raiders released Williams.{{Cite web |last=Sessler |first=Marc |date=April 18, 2017 |title=Dan Williams released by Oakland Raiders |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/dan-williams-released-by-oakland-raiders-0ap3000000800802 |access-date=April 18, 2017 |website=NFL.com}}

=NFL statistics=

Year	Team	{{tooltip\|GP\|Games played}}	{{tooltip\|COMB\|Combined tackles}}	{{tooltip\|TOTAL\|Total tackles}}	{{tooltip\|AST\|Assisted tackles}}	{{tooltip\|SACK\|Sacks}}	{{tooltip\|FF\|Forced fumbles}}	{{tooltip\|FR\|Fumble recoveries}}	{{tooltip\|FR YDS\|Fumble return yards}}	{{tooltip\|INT\|Interceptions}}	{{tooltip\|IR YDS\|Interception return yards}}	{{tooltip\|AVG IR\|Average interception return}}	{{tooltip\|LNG\|Longest interception return}}	{{tooltip\|TD\|Interceptions returned for touchdown}}	{{tooltip\|PD\|Passes defensed}}
class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
2010	ARI	15	38	27	11	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2
2011	ARI	10	20	14	6	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2
2012	ARI	15	44	33	11	0.0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
2013	ARI	14	23	15	8	1.0	0	0	0	1	2	2	2	1	2
2014	ARI	16	31	20	11	1.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
2015	OAK	16	48	33	15	1.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
2016	OAK	16	17	11	6	0.5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
class="sortbottom" ! colspan="2" \| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WillDa99.htm Career]	102	221	153	68	3.5	0	1	0	1	2	2	2	1	10

Personal life

Dan spends his offseason in Memphis, where he is a hands-on dad and husband to his eleven year-old daughter, McKayla and his wife Tia. Off the field, Dan is committed to serving others, especially in the areas of education and health and wellness, specifically preventing diabetes in the African American community with his [https://www.facebook.com/Dan-Williams-Filling-The-Gap-Foundation-134865396975778/ Filling the Gaps Foundation]. He is also an ambassador for the [http://www.diabetes.org/?loc=bb-dorg American Diabetes Association] and is a member of Team Tackle,{{Cite web|url=http://www.diabetes.org/newsroom/press-releases/2016/team-tackle-initiative.html|title=American Diabetes Association Joins with Professional Football Players to Launch|website=American Diabetes Association|language=en|access-date=June 23, 2017|archive-date=June 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170610092357/http://www.diabetes.org/newsroom/press-releases/2016/team-tackle-initiative.html|url-status=dead}} work he dedicates to the memory of his late father who died in 2013.{{citation needed|date=August 2017}}

References

External links

[https://utsports.com/sports/football/roster/dan-williams/1820 Tennessee Volunteers bio]

Category:1987 births

Category:Living people

Category:Players of American football from Memphis, Tennessee

Category:American football defensive tackles

Category:Tennessee Volunteers football players

Category:Arizona Cardinals players

Category:Oakland Raiders players