Devonte Williams
{{Short description|American gridiron football player (born 1997)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox CFL biography
|name=Devonte Williams
|team=Ottawa Redblacks
|image=2023, 31, Devonte Williams.jpg
|image_upright=1
|caption=Williams with the Ottawa Redblacks in 2023
|status=Active
|import=yes
|position1=Running back
|birth_date={{birth date and age|1997|2|5}}
|birth_place=Columbia, Maryland, U. S.
|number=31
|college=Southeastern Louisiana
Indiana
|high_school=Bullis School
|Height_ft=5
|Height_in=9
|Weight_lbs=170
|playing_years1={{CFL Year|2021}}
|playing_team1=Winnipeg Blue Bombers*
|playing_years2={{CFL Year|2022}}–present
|playing_team2=Ottawa Redblacks
|career_footnotes=
|career_highlights=
|CFL=devonte-williams-2/165992/
}}
Devonte Williams (born February 5, 1997) is an American professional football running back for the Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League (CFL).
College career
Williams first played college football for the Indiana Hoosiers in 2015 as a cornerback, where he played and started in three games before suffering a season-ending injury.{{Cite web |title=Devonte Williams |url=https://iuhoosiers.com/sports/football/roster/devonte-williams/9743 |access-date=October 16, 2023 |publisher=Indiana Hoosiers}} He used a medical redshirt year in 2015 and returned to his position of running back in 2016 and 2017.
He then transferred to Southeastern Louisiana University to play for the Lions in 2018 and 2019, where he played in 23 games and had 222 carries for 892 yards and 12 touchdowns.{{Cite web |title=Devonte Williams |url=https://jmusports.com/sports/football/roster/bryce-carter/17275 |access-date=October 16, 2023 |publisher=Southeastern Louisiana Lions}}
Professional career
=Winnipeg Blue Bombers=
After not playing in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Williams signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on July 13, 2021.{{Cite web |date=July 13, 2021 |title=Bombers bring in RB Devonte Williams |url=https://www.cfl.ca/2021/07/13/bombers-bring-rb-devonte-williams/ |publisher=Canadian Football League}} Following training camp, he began the season on the practice roster and was eventually released on September 30, 2021.{{Cite web |title=Transactions – Football player trades and signings |url=https://www.cfl.ca/transactions/2021/ |access-date=October 16, 2023 |publisher=Canadian Football League}}
=Ottawa Redblacks=
On April 20, 2022, it was announced that Williams had signed with the Ottawa Redblacks.{{Cite web |date=April 20, 2022 |title=Redblacks sign OL Jeremy Hickey and RB Devonte Williams |url=https://www.ottawaredblacks.com/2022/04/20/redblacks-sign-ol-jeremy-hickey-and-rb-devonte-williams/ |publisher=Ottawa Redblacks}} After the team's incumbent starting running back, William Powell, suffered an injury in training camp, Williams was named the opening day starter. He made his professional debut on June 10, 2022, against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, where he had nine carries for 33 yards.{{Cite web |title=Devonte Williams |url=https://www.ottawaredblacks.com/players/devonte-williams-2/165992/ |access-date=October 14, 2023 |publisher=Ottawa Redblacks}} He started in the first two games of the regular season before relinquishing his position to Powell and Williams was assigned to the practice roster.{{Cite web |title=Transactions – Football player trades and signings |url=https://www.cfl.ca/transactions/2022/ |access-date=October 16, 2023 |publisher=Canadian Football League}} Following another injury to Powell, Williams returned and played in six more regular season games and totalled 90 carries for 454 yards and 27 receptions for 159 yards for the year. At the end of the year, he was named the Redblacks' nominee for the CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie Award.{{Cite web |last=Jhalli |first=Anil |date=October 26, 2022 |title=Redblacks reveal team award winners |url=https://ottawa.citynews.ca/2022/10/26/redblacks-reveal-team-award-winners-6010288/ |access-date=February 19, 2024 |website=CityNews}}
After the Redblacks decided not to re-sign Powell, Williams became the starting running back for the 2023 season. He scored his first career touchdown on a 23-yard run in a game against the Edmonton Elks on August 27, 2023.
Personal life
Williams' was born to parents Harmony and Isaac Williams. Williams' uncles, Shawn Springs and Omar Evans, also played professional football in the National Football League and Canadian Football League, respectively.{{Cite web |date=July 12, 2022 |title=“Its been a complete blessing” Ottawa Redblacks running back Devonte Williams looks back on his story |url=https://jzmedia.ca/2022/07/12/devontewilliamsthematrix/ |publisher=JZ Media}} Williams' grandfather, Ron Springs, played at running back for the Dallas Cowboys and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.ottawaredblacks.com/players/devonte-williams-2/165992/ Ottawa Redblacks bio]
- {{commonscatinline}}
{{Ottawa Redblacks roster navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Williams, Devonte}}
Category:American football running backs
Category:Canadian football running backs
Category:Indiana Hoosiers football players
Category:Ottawa Redblacks players
Category:Players of American football from Maryland
Category:Players of Canadian football from Maryland
Category:Southeastern Louisiana Lions football players