Darryl Williams (center)
{{Short description|American football player (born 1997)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Darryl Williams
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| current_team =
| number =
| position = Center
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1997|6|10}}
| birth_place = Bessemer, Alabama, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 2
| weight_lbs = 304
| high_school = Bessemer City (AL)
| college = Mississippi State (2015–2019)
| undraftedyear = 2020
| pastteams =
- Kansas City Chiefs ({{NFL Year|2020|2022}})*
- New England Patriots ({{NFL Year|2022}})*
- Jacksonville Jaguars ({{NFL Year|2022|2023}})
| status =
| statseason = 2023
| statweek =
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 = 1
| highlights =
| pfr = WillDa14
}}
Darryl Williams Jr. (born June 10, 1997) is an American professional football center who is a free agent. He played college football at Mississippi State and was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in {{NFL Year|2020}}. He has also spent time with the New England Patriots.
Early life and education
Williams was born on June 10, 1997, in Bessemer, Alabama. He attended Bessemer City High School there and played football as a lineman. He was a four-star prospect and was ranked as the tenth-best player in the state by ESPN. He also placed 13th on the 247Sports list of top prospects, 14th on the list made by Scout.com, and 21st on the list made by Rivals.com. At the end of his senior year, Williams was invited to the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic.{{Cite web|url=https://hailstate.com/sports/football/roster/darryl-williams/5401|website=hailstate.com|publisher=Mississippi State Bulldogs|title=Darryl Williams}}
Williams announced his commitment to Mississippi State in October 2014, and spent his true freshman year (2015) as a redshirt. As a redshirt-freshman in 2016, he appeared in the first seven games of the season, mainly on special teams, before suffering a season-ending neck injury. He appeared on a total of 32 snaps that year.
Williams became a starter as a sophomore in 2017, appearing in all 13 games. He was named once the Lineman of the Week in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and was graded out higher than any other Mississippi State lineman on the season. He helped Mississippi State allow the fewest sacks (13) in the conference and the fifth-lowest total in the nation.
In the 2018 season, Williams' junior year, he started 12 games as the team's main left guard. He appeared on a total of 676 snaps and only missed one game, Auburn, due to injury. Pro Football Focus graded him the fifth-best guard overall in the conference and he was given the fifth-best pass-blocking grade (82.9). Williams only allowed a single sack in the season, and helped the team place second in the conference for yards per rush (5.7) and rushing yards per game (223.6).
Williams was named team captain for his senior year, 2019, and started every game (13) at the center position. He played the second-most snaps on the team and only allowed one sack on 365 pass plays. He helped the school place third in the conference for rushing yards per game, second in average yards per rush, and fifth in rushing touchdowns. He was named SEC Lineman of the Week against Southern Miss.
Williams graduated in December 2019 with a degree in family sciences and human development. He finished his college career with 45 games played, 38 as a starter, in four seasons played in. According to Pro Football Focus, he allowed only two sacks in his career and played on a total of 2,246 snaps. His biography at the Mississippi State website stated that he was "[a]n elite, versatile offensive lineman who was an unquestioned team leader during his career."
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 2 3/8
| weight = 304
| dash = 5.23
| ten split = 1.80
| twenty split = 3.01
| shuttle = 4.76
| cone drill = 7.88
| vertical = 25.5
| broad ft = 8
| broad in = 6
| bench = 23
| arm span = 32 1/8
| hand span = 9 3/4
| note = All values from NFL Combine{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/darryl-williams/32005749-4c20-7540-b6f6-23254773e78b |title=Darryl Williams Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |website=NFL.com |access-date=March 20, 2023}}{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1003048&DraftYear=2020 |title=2020 Draft Scout Darryl Williams, Mississippi State NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile |access-date=March 20, 2023 |website=draftscout.com}}
}}
=Kansas City Chiefs=
After going unselected in the 2020 NFL draft, Williams was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thecutoffnews.com/sports/bessemer-native-darryl-williams-signs-to-kansas-city-chiefs/article_e7c27916-875c-11ea-b427-73a306520dde.html|newspaper=The Cutoff News|title=Bessemer Native Darryl Williams Signs To Kansas City Chiefs |author=Holloway, Seth|date=April 26, 2020}} He was waived at the final roster cuts, on September 5, but was re-signed to the practice squad the following day.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kshb.com/sports/chiefs-announce-initial-roster-moves|website=kshb.com|publisher=KSHB-TV|title=Chiefs announce initial roster moves|author=Jacobs, Nick|date=September 5, 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jefffedotin/2020/09/06/the-kansas-city-chiefs-make-good-use-of-new-practice-squad-rules/?sh=5fa78ac9699f|website=Forbes|title=The Kansas City Chiefs Make Good Use Of New Practice Squad Rules|author=Fedotin, Jeff|date=September 6, 2020}} He was released from the practice squad on January 14, 2021, and was re-signed on January 27, during the playoffs.{{Cite web|url=https://www.al.com/sports/2021/01/bessemers-darryl-williams-rejoins-kansas-city-chiefs.html|website=AL.com|title=Bessemer's Darryl Williams rejoins Kansas City Chiefs|author=Inabinett, Mark|date=January 27, 2021}} Williams was signed to a future contract on February 9.{{Cite web|url=https://sportsforecaster.com/nfl/p/124838/Darryl_Williams/transactions|website=sportsforecaster.com|title=Darryl Williams Transactions & Injuries}} He was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list on August 7,{{Cite web|url=https://chiefswire.usatoday.com/2021/08/07/kansas-city-chiefs-darryl-williams-covid-19-reserve-list/|website=USA Today|title=Chiefs place C Darryl Williams on Reserve/COVID-19 list|author=Goldman, Charles|date=August 7, 2021}} and was activated three days later.{{Cite web |last=Teope |first=Herbie |date=August 11, 2021 |title=KC Chiefs defense: Steve Spagnuolo on 1st preseason NFL |url=https://www.kansascity.com/sports/nfl/kansas-city-chiefs/article253383718.html |access-date=November 29, 2023 |newspaper=The Kansas City Star}}
Williams was waived at the final roster cuts again in 2021, on August 31 of that year, and was subsequently signed to the practice squad.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kshb.com/sports/chiefs-trim-roster-to-53-players-keep-4-tights-ends|website=kshb.com|publisher=KSHB-TV|date=August 31, 2021|title=Chiefs trim roster to 53 players, keep 4 tight ends|author=Palmer, Tod}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.kshb.com/sports/chiefs-sign-14-players-to-practice-squad-ahead-of-2021-season|website=kshb.com|publisher=KSHB-TV|date=September 2, 2021|author=Palmer, Tod|title=Chiefs sign 14 players to practice squad ahead of 2021 season}} He was released on October 19,{{Cite web|url=https://www.al.com/sports/2021/10/former-alabama-lineman-returns-to-nfl-with-ravens.html|website=AL.com|title=Former Alabama lineman returns to NFL with Ravens|author=Inabinett, Mark|date=October 19, 2021}} but was later brought back on November 9.{{Cite web|url=https://chiefswire.usatoday.com/2021/11/09/kansas-city-chiefs-practice-squad-nakia-griffin-stewart-waived-darryl-williams-signed/|website=USA Today|title=Chiefs make a pair of practice squad transactions on Tuesday|author=Goldman, Charles|date=November 9, 2021}} On February 2, 2022, he was signed to a future contract. He was released on June 14.{{Cite web|url=https://chiefswire.usatoday.com/2022/06/14/kansas-city-chiefs-darryl-williams-waived-jerick-mckinnon-signed/|website=USA Today|title=Chiefs waive C Darryl Williams from 90-man offseason roster|author=Goldman, Charles|date=June 14, 2022}}
=New England Patriots=
On June 21, 2022, Williams was signed by the New England Patriots.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/college/mississippistate/football/mississippi-state-offensive-lineman-darryl-williams-signs-new-england-patriots|magazine=Sports Illustrated|title=Former Mississippi State OL Signs With New England Patriots|author=Froyd, Crissy|date=June 22, 2022}} He was later released on July 26.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bostonherald.com/2022/07/26/patriots-sideline-2-players-release-an-offensive-lineman-before-training-camp/|newspaper=Boston Herald|title=Patriots sideline 2 players, release an offensive lineman before training camp |author=Callahan, Andrew|date=July 26, 2022}}
=Jacksonville Jaguars=
Williams was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars four days after being cut by New England.{{Cite web|url=https://arrowheadaddict.com/2022/07/31/checking-darryl-williams-former-chiefs-players/|website=arrowheadaddict.com|publisher=FanSided|title=Checking on Darryl Williams and other former Chiefs players|author=Conner, Matt|date=July 31, 2022}} He was waived at the final roster cuts, on August 30, and afterwards was re-signed to the practice squad.{{Cite web|url=https://jaguarswire.usatoday.com/lists/get-to-know-the-jaguars-practice-squad-prospects/|website=USA Today|title=Get to know the Jaguars' practice squad prospects|author=Dillon, John|date=September 2, 2022}} He was elevated to the active roster for their week four game against the Philadelphia Eagles,{{Cite web|url=https://www.jaguars.com/news/roster-moves-jaguars-elevate-williams-and-summers-to-the-active-roster-downgrade|website=jaguars.com|publisher=Jacksonville Jaguars|title=Roster Moves: Jaguars elevate Williams and Summers to the active roster, downgrade Van Lanen and Chaisson|date=October 1, 2022}} and made his debut in the 29–21 loss, appearing on three special teams snaps.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WillDa14.htm|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|title=Darryl Williams Stats}} He signed a reserve/future contract on January 23, 2023.{{Cite web |last=Bouda |first=Nate |date=January 23, 2023 |title=Jaguars Sign 12 Players To Futures Contracts |url=https://nfltraderumors.co/jaguars-sign-12-players-to-futures-contracts/ |access-date=November 29, 2023 |website=NFLTradeRumors.co |language=en-US}}
On August 29, 2023, Williams was waived by the Jaguars and re-signed to the practice squad.{{Cite web |last=Oehser |first=John |date=August 29, 2023 |title=Roster Reduction: Jaguars Move Towards 53 Players |url=https://www.jaguars.com/news/roster-reduction-jaguars-move-to-53-players-x3946 |access-date=October 24, 2023 |website=Jaguars.com}}{{cite web|title=Roster Moves: Jaguars Announce 13 Additions to Practice Squad|url=https://www.jaguars.com/news/roster-moves-jaguars-announce-13-additions-to-practice-squad|website=Jaguars.com|date=August 30, 2023}} He signed a reserve/future contract on January 8, 2024.{{cite web|title=Jaguars sign 11 players to reserve/future contracts|url=https://jaguarswire.usatoday.com/lists/jaguars-2024-reserve-future-contracts-deals-practice-squad/|work=Jaguars Wire|publisher=USA Today|date=January 8, 2024}}
On August 27, 2024, Williams was waived by the Jaguars.{{cite web|title=Roster Moves: Jacksonville Jaguars Make The Following Roster Moves Hours Before 2024 Roster Deadline|url=https://www.jaguars.com/news/roster-moves-jacksonville-jaguars-make-the-following-roster-moves-hours-before-2024-roster-deadline|website=Jaguars.com|date=August 27, 2024}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.jaguars.com/team/players-roster/darryl-williams/ Jacksonville Jagaurs bio]
- [https://hailstate.com/sports/football/roster/darryl-williams/5401 Mississippi State Bulldogs bio]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Williams, Darryl}}
Category:American football centers
Category:American football offensive guards
Category:Players of American football from Bessemer, Alabama
Category:Mississippi State Bulldogs football players
Category:Kansas City Chiefs players