Marcus Williams (cornerback)
{{Short description|American football player (born 1991)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Distinguish|Marcus Williams (safety)}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Marcus Williams
| image = Marcus Williams (defensive back).JPG
| caption = Williams with the Houston Texans in 2014
| number = 20, 22, 31, 40
| position = Cornerback
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|3|24}}
| birth_place = Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 11
| weight_lbs = 196
| high_school = Hopkins
(Minnetonka, Minnesota)
| college = North Dakota State
| undraftedyear = 2014
| pastteams =
- Houston Texans ({{NFL Year|2014}})*
- New York Jets ({{NFL Year|2014}}–{{NFL Year|2017}})
- Houston Texans ({{NFL Year|2017}})
- Arizona Cardinals ({{NFL Year|2018}})*
- New Orleans Saints ({{NFL Year|2018}})*
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers ({{NFL Year|2018}})
- Chicago Bears ({{NFL Year|2018}})
| highlights =
- 3× FCS national champion (2011–2013)
| statlabel1 = Total tackles
| statvalue1 = 118
| statlabel2 = Sacks
| statvalue2 = 2.5
| statlabel3 = Forced fumbles
| statvalue3 = 2
| statlabel4 = Pass deflections
| statvalue4 = 27
| statlabel5 = Interceptions
| statvalue5 = 10
| pfr = WillMa03
}}
Marcus Jeffrey Williams{{cite web | title=Profile | work= rostermon.com | url=http://www.rostermon.com/player/4345/ }} (born March 24, 1991) is an American former professional football cornerback. He was signed by the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent in 2014. He played college football at North Dakota State University. He was also a member of the New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Chicago Bears.
Early life
Williams stood out at Hopkins High School in Minnetonka, MN in both basketball and football, and decided on playing football at NDSU{{cite web|last1=Rand|first1=Michael|title=Marcus Williams Q&A|url=http://www.startribune.com/sunday-q-a-with-marcus-williams-jets-cornerback/384419751/|website=Star Tribune|access-date=February 2, 2017}} since he didn't receive a Big 10 offer for basketball.
College career
Williams set the NDSU school record with 21 career interceptions. Williams also set the FCS D1-AA record with career interception returns for touchdown with 7. He had 8 defensive touchdowns in total.{{cite web|title=NDSU Bisons bio|url=http://www.gobison.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=4602|website=GoBison.com|publisher=NDSU Athletics|access-date=February 2, 2017}}
Williams received Associated Press First-team All-American honors in 2011, 2012, and 2013, as well as Walter Camp FCS All American Team honors in 2011, 2012, & 2013.
Professional career
=Houston Texans (first stint)=
On May 16, 2014, Williams signed with the Houston Texans. On August 30, 2014, Williams was released by the Texans.
=New York Jets=
Williams was signed to the New York Jets' practice squad on September 26, 2014.{{cite web|title=Jets promote CB LeQuan Lewis to 53-man roster, sign CB Marcus Williams to practice squad |url=http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2014/09/-man_roster_source_confirms.html |publisher=NJ.com |author=Cosentino, Dom |date=September 24, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006141109/http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2014/09/-man_roster_source_confirms.html |archive-date=October 6, 2014 |access-date=September 26, 2014 |url-status=dead }} He was promoted to the active roster on October 28, 2014.{{cite web|title=Jets release LB A.J. Edds, sign cornerback |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/new-york/jets/post/_/id/45345/jets-release-lb-a-j-edds-sign-cornerback |author=Cimini, Rich |date=October 28, 2014 |publisher=ESPN New York |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141030202407/http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/jets/post/_/id/45345/jets-release-lb-a-j-edds-sign-cornerback |archive-date=October 30, 2014 |access-date=October 29, 2014 |url-status=live }} In his debut against the Kansas City Chiefs on November 2, 2014, he played for the majority of the game. He had a team-high seven tackles and one pass defensed, earning the praise of head coach Rex Ryan for his performance.{{cite web|title=Meet Marcus Williams, the 'next man up' in Jets' depleted secondary |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/new-york/jets/post/_/id/45693/meet-marcus-williams-the-next-man-up-in-jets-depleted-secondary |author=Knobler, Danny |date=November 4, 2014 |publisher=ESPN New York |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141106112519/http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/jets/post/_/id/45693/meet-marcus-williams-the-next-man-up-in-jets-depleted-secondary |archive-date=November 6, 2014 |access-date=November 5, 2014 |url-status=live }} In 8 games of his rookie season in 2014, Williams made 37 tackles, an interception, and seven passes defended.
On October 4, 2015, he made a game clinching interception against the Miami Dolphins in a game in London. One month later, against the Jacksonville Jaguars, he got two interceptions, a career-high, one of which clinched the game. On December 19, 2015, he made the game winning interception against the Dallas Cowboys, his third game winning interception of the season. Despite being a substitute cornerback, Williams would appear in 13 games making 21 tackles, six interceptions, 1.5 sacks, ten passes defended, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery.
On March 9, 2017, the Jets placed a second-round tender on Williams.{{cite web|title=Jets Give Johnson, Williams 2nd-Round Tenders|url=http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/article-randylangefb/Jets-Give-Johnson-Williams-2nd-Round-Tenders/f0423cce-7740-4eee-a43c-53c1007cc732|author=Lange, Randy|website=NewYorkJets.com|date=March 9, 2017}} On October 9, 2017, Williams was released by the Jets.{{cite web|title=Jets activate Jalin Marshall, waive Marcus Williams|url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2017/10/09/jets-activate-jalin-marshall-waive-marcus-williams/|author=Williams, Charean|website=ProFootballTalk.NBCSports.com|date=October 9, 2017}}
=Houston Texans (second stint)=
On October 10, 2017, Williams was claimed off waivers by the Texans.{{cite web|title=Transactions: Texans claim Marcus Williams|url=https://www.houstontexans.com/news/transactions-texans-claim-marcus-williams-19547133|website=HoustonTexans.com|date=October 10, 2017}} On October 30, 2017, he recorded his first interception of the season, picking off the Seattle Seahawks' Russell Wilson in the fourth quarter.{{Cite news|url=https://www.chron.com/sports/texans/article/Texans-corner-Marcus-Williams-delivers-big-12318108.php|title=Texans corner Marcus Williams delivers big interception|last=Wilson|first=Aaron|date=October 30, 2017|work=Houston Chronicle|access-date=April 20, 2018}} He finished his second stint with the Texans with twelve tackles and an interception in ten games.
=Arizona Cardinals=
On April 19, 2018, Williams signed a one-year deal with the Arizona Cardinals.{{cite web|title=Cardinals Sign CB Marcus Williams|url=http://www.azcardinals.com/news-and-events/article-2/Cardinals-Sign-CB-Marcus-Williams/940a9a47-7084-4ddb-bbc4-db077b36d9cd|author=Urban, Darren|website=AZCardinals.com|date=April 19, 2018}} On May 21, 2018, Williams was released by the Cardinals.{{cite web|title=Cardinals Release Cornerback Marcus Williams|url=https://www.azcardinals.com/news/cardinals-release-cornerback-marcus-williams-20672316|author=Odegard, Kyle|website=AZCardinals.com|date=May 21, 2018}}
=New Orleans Saints=
On August 11, 2018, Williams signed with the New Orleans Saints.{{cite web|title=New Orleans Saints announce roster moves|url=https://www.neworleanssaints.com/news/new-orleans-saints-announce-roster-moves-3|website=NewOrleansSaints.com|date=August 12, 2018}} He was released on September 1, 2018.{{cite web|title=New Orleans Saints make roster reductions to 53|url=https://www.neworleanssaints.com/news/new-orleans-saints-make-roster-reductions-to-53|website=NewOrleansSaints.com|date=September 1, 2018}}
=Tampa Bay Buccaneers=
On September 11, 2018, Williams signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.{{cite web|title=Bucs Add CB Marcus Williams, Release G Adam Gettis|url=https://www.buccaneers.com/news/bucs-add-cb-marcus-williams-release-g-adam-gettis|author=Smith, Scott|website=Buccaneers.com|date=September 11, 2018}} He was placed on injured reserve on October 13, 2018 with a hamstring injury.{{cite web|title=Bucs Bring Freddie Martino Back|url=https://www.buccaneers.com/news/bucs-bring-freddie-martino-back|author=Smith, Scott|website=Buccaneers.com|date=October 13, 2018}} He was released on October 22, 2018.
=Chicago Bears=
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- [http://www.gobison.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=4602 North Dakota State Bison bio]
{{2011 NDSU Bison football navbox}}
{{2012 NDSU Bison football navbox}}
{{2013 NDSU Bison football navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Williams, Marcus}}
Category:Sportspeople from Minnetonka, Minnesota
Category:Players of American football from Hennepin County, Minnesota
Category:Players of American football from Minneapolis
Category:American football cornerbacks
Category:North Dakota State Bison football players
Category:Houston Texans players
Category:21st-century American sportsmen
Category:New York Jets players
Category:Arizona Cardinals players
Category:New Orleans Saints players
Category:Tampa Bay Buccaneers players