Darrel Williams
{{Short description|American football player (born 1995)}}
{{other people}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Darrel Williams
| image = Darrel Williams.JPG
| alt =
| caption = Williams with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2019
| current_team =
| number =
| position = Running back
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1995|4|15}}
| birth_place = Marrero, Louisiana, U.S.
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 11
| weight_lb = 224
| high_school = John Ehret (Marrero, Louisiana)
| college = LSU (2014–2017)
| undraftedyear = 2018
| pastteams = * Kansas City Chiefs ({{NFL Year|2018}}–{{NFL Year|2021}})
- Arizona Cardinals ({{NFL Year|2022}})
- New Orleans Saints ({{NFL Year|2023}})*
| status =
| highlights = * Super Bowl champion (LIV)
| statweek =
| statseason =
| statlabel1 = Rushing yards
| statvalue1 = 1,014
| statlabel2 = Rushing average
| statvalue2 = 3.9
| statlabel3 = Rushing touchdowns
| statvalue3 = 11
| statlabel4 = Receptions
| statvalue4 = 87
| statlabel5 = Receiving yards
| statvalue5 = 771
| statlabel6 = Receiving touchdowns
| statvalue6 = 4
| pfr = WillDa10
}}
Darrel Williams (born April 15, 1995) is an American professional football running back. He played college football for the LSU Tigers. He was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2018.
Early life
Williams was a four-star recruit coming out of John Ehret High School in Marrero, Louisiana; he amassed 2,036 yards and had 27 touchdowns in his senior year.{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=James |date=December 10, 2013 |title=Ehret running back Darrel Williams commits to LSU |url=http://www.nola.com/recruiting/index.ssf/2013/12/ehret_running_back_darrel_will_1.html |access-date=January 19, 2018 |website=NOLA.com |archive-date=January 19, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180119120640/http://www.nola.com/recruiting/index.ssf/2013/12/ehret_running_back_darrel_will_1.html |url-status=live }} He originally committed to play college football for Arizona State, but after a running back spot opened up at LSU, he was recruited by head coach Les Miles to play for them. He decided to flip his commitment to LSU over offers from Wisconsin, Tennessee, and Florida, among others.{{Cite web |last=Donohue |first=Tyler |date=December 11, 2013 |title=4-Star RB Darrel Williams Commits to LSU over Several SEC Options |url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1884918-4-star-rb-darrel-williams-commits-to-lsu-over-several-sec-options |website=Bleacher Report |access-date=February 8, 2015 |archive-date=February 9, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150209042211/http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1884918-4-star-rb-darrel-williams-commits-to-lsu-over-several-sec-options |url-status=live }}
College career
In Williams's freshman season at LSU, he joined a four-player running back rotation. On October 1, 2016, against Missouri, he had 21 carries for 130 rushing yards and three touchdowns.{{Cite web |title=Missouri at LSU Box Score, October 1, 2016 |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/boxscores/2016-10-01-louisiana-state.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221118230525/https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/boxscores/2016-10-01-louisiana-state.html |archive-date=November 18, 2022 |access-date=2023-07-04 |website=Sports Reference |language=en}} As a senior, he played in 13 games, starting four, while serving as the primary backup to Derrius Guice. On October 21, 2017, against Ole Miss, he became the first player in LSU history to record at least 100 rushing yards and 100 receiving yards in the same game.{{cite web |last=Guilbeau |first=Glenn |date=October 21, 2017 |title="Finally healthy" Derrius Guice, sidekick Darrel Williams total 493 yards in Ole Miss win |work=The Advertiser |url=http://www.theadvertiser.com/story/sports/college/lsu/2017/10/21/herbstreit-picks-ole-miss-but-hey-he-had-miles-going-michigan-weathersby-start/787154001/ |access-date=November 5, 2017 |archive-date=March 2, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210302015533/https://www.theadvertiser.com/story/sports/college/lsu/2017/10/21/herbstreit-picks-ole-miss-but-hey-he-had-miles-going-michigan-weathersby-start/787154001/ |url-status=live }} After the conclusion of LSU's 2017 season, Williams accepted an invitation to play in the 2018 Senior Bowl.{{Cite web |last=Shipp |first=Sonny |date=January 16, 2018 |title=Darrel Williams and Christian LaCouture added to Senior Bowl |url=https://247sports.com/college/lsu/Article/LSU-Tigers-football-players-Darrel-Williams-and-Christian-LaCouture-added-to-Senior-Bowl-roster-113799128 |access-date=January 19, 2018 |website=247sports.com |archive-date=July 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230704192919/https://247sports.com/college/lsu/Article/LSU-Tigers-football-players-Darrel-Williams-and-Christian-LaCouture-added-to-Senior-Bowl-roster-113799128/ |url-status=live }} Williams was named one of LSU’s two team MVPs (along with linebacker Devin White) at the conclusion of his senior season in 2017. He finished his career with 1,651 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns, along with 38 receptions for 462 yards.https://lsusports.net/sports/fb/roster/player/darrel-williams/
=College statistics=
| class="wikitable"
! rowspan="2"| Year ! rowspan="2"| School ! rowspan="2"| Conf ! rowspan="2"| Class ! rowspan="2"| Pos ! rowspan="2"| G ! colspan="4" style="text-align: center; font-weight:bold;" | Rushing ! colspan="4" style="text-align: center; font-weight:bold;" | Receiving |
| style="font-weight:bold;" | Att
| style="font-weight:bold;" | Yds | style="font-weight:bold;" | Avg | style="font-weight:bold;" | TD | style="font-weight:bold;" | Rec | style="font-weight:bold;" | Yds | style="font-weight:bold;" | Avg | style="font-weight:bold;" | TD |
| 2014
| LSU | SEC | FR | RB | 11 | 64 | 302 | 4.7 | 3 | 6 | 63 | 10.5 | 0 |
| 2015
| LSU | SEC | SO | RB | 11 | 60 | 296 | 4.9 | 4 | 4 | 31 | 7.8 | 0 |
| 2016
| LSU | SEC | JR | RB | 9 | 52 | 233 | 4.5 | 3 | 5 | 37 | 7.4 | 0 |
| 2017
| LSU | SEC | SR | RB | 13 | 145 | 820 | 5.7 | 9 | 23 | 331 | 14.4 | 0 |
| style="font-weight:bold;" | [https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/darrel-williams-1.html Career]
| style="font-weight:bold;" | LSU | colspan="3" style="font-weight:bold;" | | style="font-weight:bold;" | 44 | style="font-weight:bold;" | 321 | style="font-weight:bold;" | 1,651 | style="font-weight:bold;" | 5.1 | style="font-weight:bold;" | 19 | style="font-weight:bold;" | 38 | style="font-weight:bold;" | 462 | style="font-weight:bold;" | 12.2 | style="font-weight:bold;" | 0 |
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 5
| height in = 11+5/8
| weight = 225
| dash = 4.72
| ten split =
| twenty split =
| shuttle = 4.21
| cone drill =
| vertical = 32.0
| broad ft = 9
| broad in = 1
| bench = 22
| arm span = 31
| hand span = 9+3/8
| wonderlic =
| note = All values from NFL Combine{{Cite web |last=Zierlein |first=Lance |title=Darrel Williams Combine Profile |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/darrel-williams/32195749-4c20-7361-9bac-e63ffb6793a8 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230704192920/https://www.nfl.com/prospects/darrel-williams/32005749-4c20-7361-9bac-e63ffb6793a8 |archive-date=July 4, 2023 |access-date=September 28, 2020 |website=NFL.com}}
}}
=Kansas City Chiefs=
After going undrafted in the 2018 NFL draft, Williams was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent on May 5, 2018.{{Cite web |date=May 5, 2018 |title=Meet the Kansas City Chiefs' 14 Undrafted Rookie Free Agents for 2018 |url=https://www.chiefs.com/news/meet-the-kansas-city-chiefs-14-undrafted-rookie-free-agents-for-2018-20632448 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190321203636/https://www.chiefs.com/news/meet-the-kansas-city-chiefs-14-undrafted-rookie-free-agents-for-2018-20632448 |archive-date=March 21, 2019 |access-date=September 17, 2020 |website=Chiefs.com}} He totaled 13 carries for 44 rushing yards and three receptions for 27 receiving yards and a receiving touchdown in his rookie season.{{Cite web |title=Darrel Williams 2018 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WillDa10/gamelog/2018/ |access-date=March 12, 2019 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en |archive-date=July 16, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190716025111/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WillDa10/gamelog/2018/ |url-status=live }}
In Week 4 of the 2019 season against the Detroit Lions, Williams rushed eight times for 13 yards and two touchdowns and caught three passes for 43 yards in the 34–30 win.{{Cite web |date=September 29, 2019 |title=Chiefs score late, stay undefeated with 34-30 win over Lions |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap?gameId=401128023 |access-date=September 29, 2019 |website=ESPN |agency=Associated Press |archive-date=September 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190930071127/https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap?gameId=401128023 |url-status=live }} Williams was placed on injured reserve on December 5, 2019, with a hamstring injury.{{Cite web |last=Gantt |first=Darin |date=December 5, 2019 |title=Chiefs put Darrel Williams on injured reserve |url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2019/12/05/chiefs-put-darrel-williams-on-injured-reserve/ |access-date=September 17, 2020 |website=Pro Football Talk |publisher=NBC Sports |archive-date=December 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191206151814/https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2019/12/05/chiefs-put-darrel-williams-on-injured-reserve/ |url-status=live }} He finished the season with 141 rushing yards and three touchdowns, along with 15 catches for 167 yards and one touchdown through 12 games.{{Cite web |title=Darrel Williams 2019 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WillDa10/gamelog/2019/ |access-date=January 13, 2020 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en |archive-date=January 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200114112332/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WillDa10/gamelog/2019/ |url-status=live }} During his absence, the Chiefs went on to win Super Bowl LIV, their first championship in 50 years.{{Cite web |last=Shook |first=Nick |date=February 2, 2020 |title=Kansas City Chiefs win Super Bowl LIV |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/chiefs-rally-once-again-to-defeat-49ers-win-sb-liv-0ap3000001100762 |access-date=February 2, 2020 |website=NFL.com |archive-date=February 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200203035651/http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001100762/article/chiefs-rally-once-again-to-defeat-49ers-win-sb-liv |url-status=live }}
File:Darrel Williams 2021 (51614638417) (cropped).jpg
In the 2020 season, Williams finished the season with 39 carries for 169 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown to go along with 18 receptions for 116 receiving yards.{{Cite web |title=Darrel Williams 2020 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WillDa10/gamelog/2020/ |access-date=March 4, 2021 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en |archive-date=January 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220105135845/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WillDa10/gamelog/2020/ |url-status=live }} He earned the start for the Divisional Round against the Cleveland Browns due to an injury to Clyde Edwards-Helaire. In the game, Williams rushed for 78 yards and caught 4 passes for 16 yards in the 22–17 win.{{Cite web |title=Divisional Round - Cleveland Browns at Kansas City Chiefs - January 17th, 2021 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202101170kan.htm |access-date=March 4, 2021 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en |archive-date=January 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116103431/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202101170kan.htm |url-status=live }} In the American Football Conference Championship against the Buffalo Bills, Williams rushed for 52 yards and a touchdown during the 38–24 win.{{Cite web |title=AFC Championship - Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs - January 24th, 2021 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202101240kan.htm |access-date=January 31, 2021 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en |archive-date=January 30, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210130150035/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202101240kan.htm |url-status=live }} He played in Super Bowl LV, but only recorded 15 total scrimmage yards in the 31–9 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.{{Cite web |title=Super Bowl LV - Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Kansas City Chiefs - February 7th, 2021 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202102070tam.htm |access-date=March 4, 2021 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en |archive-date=March 2, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210302145706/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202102070tam.htm |url-status=live }}
Williams signed a one-year contract extension with the Chiefs on March 16, 2021.{{cite web |date=March 16, 2021 |title=Chiefs' Darrel Williams: Staying in KC |work=CBSSports.com |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/chiefs-darrel-williams-staying-in-kc/ |access-date=April 20, 2021 |archive-date=April 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420214041/https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/chiefs-darrel-williams-staying-in-kc/ |url-status=live }} Williams finished the 2021 season with a career high 558 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns. He also caught 47 passes for 452 yards and two receiving touchdowns.{{Cite web |title=Darrel Williams 2021 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WillDa10/gamelog/2021/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220105130506/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WillDa10/gamelog/2021/ |archive-date=January 5, 2022 |access-date=April 5, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference}}
=Arizona Cardinals=
On May 31, 2022, Williams signed with the Arizona Cardinals on a one-year contract.{{Cite web |last=Urban |first=Darren |date=May 31, 2022 |title=Cardinals Add Darrel Williams To Running Back Room |url=https://www.azcardinals.com/news/cardinals-add-darrel-williams-to-running-back-room |access-date=July 2, 2023 |website=AZCardinals.com |archive-date=January 31, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230131054259/https://www.azcardinals.com/news/cardinals-add-darrel-williams-to-running-back-room |url-status=live }} He was placed on injured reserve on November 2.{{Cite web |last=Urban |first=Darren |date=November 2, 2022 |title=Cardinals Claim Defensive Tackle Trysten Hill, Place Darrel Williams On IR |url=https://www.azcardinals.com/news/cardinals-claim-defensive-tackle-trysten-hill-place-darrel-williams-on-ir |access-date=July 2, 2023 |website=AZCardinals.com |archive-date=February 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230206152856/https://www.azcardinals.com/news/cardinals-claim-defensive-tackle-trysten-hill-place-darrel-williams-on-ir |url-status=live }} On November 14, 2022, backup running back Eno Benjamin was released, making Williams and rookie running back Keontay Ingram the backups.{{Cite web |last=Alper |first=Josh |date=2022-11-14 |title=Cardinals release Eno Benjamin |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/cardinals-release-eno-benjamin |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221114213622/https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/11/14/cardinals-release-eno-benjamin/ |archive-date=November 14, 2022 |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=NBC Sports |language=en-US}}
=New Orleans Saints=
On August 15, 2023, Williams signed with the New Orleans Saints.{{Cite web |date=August 15, 2023 |title=New Orleans Saints sign RB Darrel Williams and terminate contract of WR James Washington |url=https://www.neworleanssaints.com/news/darrel-williams-running-back-new-orleans-saints-roster-moves-8-15-2023 |access-date=2023-08-15 |website=NewOrleansSaints.com}} He was released on August 29.{{Cite web |date=August 29, 2023 |title=New Orleans Saints announce roster moves |url=https://www.neworleanssaints.com/news/new-orleans-saints-roster-53-reductions-2023-nfl-season |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=NewOrleansSaints.com}}
NFL career statistics
| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
! colspan="2" | Legend |
| Bold
| Career high |
=Regular season=
| class=wikitable style="text-align:center;" | ||||||||||||||
| rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team ! colspan="2"| Games ! colspan="5"| Rushing ! colspan="5"| Receiving ! colspan="2"| Fumbles | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost | |
| 2018 | KC
| 6 || 0 || 13 || 44 || 3.4 || 8 || 0 || 3 || 27 || 9.0 || 11 || 1 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||
| 2019 | KC
| 12 || 0 || 41 || 141 || 3.4 || 41T || 3 || 15 || 167 || 11.1 || 52T || 1 || 1 || 1 | |||||||||||||
| 2020 | KC
| 16 || 0 || 39 || 169 || 4.3 || 13 || 1 || 18 || 116 || 6.4 || 15 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||
| 2021 | KC
| 17 || 7 || 144 || 558 || 3.9 || 21 || 6 || 47 || 452 || 9.6 || 38 || 2 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||
| 2022
!ARI |6 |0 |21 |102 |4.9 |30 |1 |4 |9 |2.3 |6 |0 |0 |0 | ||||||||||||||
| colspan="2" | [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WillDa10.htm Career] | 57 | 7 | 258 | 1,014 | 3.9 | 41T | 11 | 87 | 771 | 8.9 | 52T | 4 | 1 | 1 |
=Postseason=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | ||||||||||||||
| rowspan="2" | Year
! rowspan="2" | Team ! colspan="2" | Games ! colspan="5" | Rushing ! colspan="5" | Receiving ! colspan="2" | Fumbles | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost | |
| 2018 | KC
|| 2 || 0 || 3 || 9 || 3.0 || 6 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||
| 2020 | KC
|| 3 || 1 || 28 || 135 || 4.8 || 16T || 1 || 7 || 35 || 5.0 || 9T || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||
| 2021 | KC
|| 2 || 0 || 1 || 4 || 4.0 || 4 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 1 | |||||||||||||
| colspan="2" | [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WillDa10/gamelog/post/ Career] | 7 | 1 | 32 | 148 | 4.6 | 16T | 2 | 7 | 35 | 5.0 | 9T | 0 | 1 | 1 |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.lsusports.net/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=209392542 LSU Tigers bio] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180119120936/http://www.lsusports.net/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=209392542 |date=January 19, 2018 }}
- {{commons category-inline}}
{{Super Bowl LIV}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Williams, Darrel}}
Category:American football running backs
Category:Arizona Cardinals players
Category:John Ehret High School alumni
Category:Kansas City Chiefs players
Category:LSU Tigers football players
Category:New Orleans Saints players
Category:Players of American football from Marrero, Louisiana