COLLEGE: With their first overall selection of the 2009 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys chose Jason Williams in the third round (69th overall). Touted for his speed and raw athleticism, Williams is expected to make an immediate impact on special teams as well as compete for the nickel and dime linebacker spot. Though he began his collegiate career as a safety, Williams made a successful transition to linebacker to tally 289 tackles, 15.0 sacks, 45 tackles for loss, 14 forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, 12 pass breakups, one interception and a blocked kick while starting 35-of-43 games played at Western Illinois. His 15.0 sacks ranked 10th on the school career-record list, while his 45 tackles for loss were good for seventh in school history - seventh in Gateway Conference annals and 21st in the NCAA FCS ranks - and his 14 forced fumbles set the NCAA FCS career record. Williams was also the first player in school history to earn consecutive All-America first-team honors from the American Football Coaches Association (2007-08).
TRANSACTION SUMMARY:
4/26/09: Drafted in the third round (69th overall) by Dallas.
2008:
All-America first-team selection by The NFL Draft Report, The Sporting News, Associated Press, the Sports Network, College Sporting News and the American Football Coaches Association.
Rated the best linebacker prospect below the major college ranks by The NFL Draft Report and finished fourth in the voting for the Buck Buchanan Award, given to the top defensive player in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision ranks.
Added All-Gateway Conference first-team honors.
Appeared in the East-West Shrine Game.
Named the team's Defensive Most Valuable Player.
Started all 11 games at weakside linebacker, producing at least one tackle behind the line of scrimmage in each of his first 10 contests.
Set the school single-season record and led the FCS ranks with six forced fumbles.
Recorded 67 tackles (39 solos) with four sacks as a senior.
Added four pressures and deflected six passes.
Ranked second in the league and 32nd nationally with 17 tackles for loss (1.32/game).
Had a tackle for loss in all games but the season finale, ending his streak at 13.
Had two sacks, two forced fumbles, four quarterback hurries and six pass breakups in a four-point loss at Arkansas, earning him League and National Player of the Week honors.
2007:
All-America first-team selection by The NFL Draft Report and American Football Coaches Association, adding second-team honors from the Associated Press and the Sports Network.
AII-Gateway Conference first-team pick.
Runner-up for Gateway Defensive Player of the Year Award.
Named the team's defensive MVP at the annual awards banquet.
Started all 11 games at weak-side linebacker as a junior, leading the league and ranking fourth in the nation by tying a then school single-season record with five forced fumbles.
Also led the conference with eight sacks for minus 45 yards and 16.5 stops for losses totaling 81 yards.
His career-high 107 tackles (42 solos) led the Leathernecks and ranked third in the Gateway conference.
Also deflected four passes, recovered two fumbles and had at least one tackle for loss in 10 games.
Helped anchor a defensive unit that ranked among the top-25 nationally in five categories - scoring defense (18th), total defense (21st), pass defense (22nd), sacks (23rd) and pass efficiency defense (25th).
2006:
All-Gateway Conference honorable mention.
Earned the team's Green Beret award for his significant contributions to the kicking game.
Took over weakside linebacker duties as the only linebacker to start all 11 games, leading all league sophomores with 92 tackles (41 solos).
Ranked eighth in the league in tackles, averaging 8.4 per-game.
Tied for the team lead with three sacks and paced the Leathernecks with 10.5 stops for losses of 47 yards to rank seventh in the conference.
Added two pressures, one interception, two pass breakups and tied for 10th in the nation with three forced fumbles.
Had at least one tackle behind the line of scrimmage in eight contests and recorded four games with at least 11 tackles.
Forced two fumbles at Missouri State.
Had a career-high 15 tackles against Illinois State.
Intercepted a pass and forced a fumble in the season opener.
2005:
All-Gateway Conference honorable mention.
As a redshirt freshman, climbed to the top of the depth chart at strong safety with strong special teams play throughout the year to earn the starting safety job for the team's final two games against Indiana State and Missouri State.
Recorded 23 tackles (14 solos) while appearing in 10 games, missing only the Iowa Wesleyan contest.
Blocked a kick at Stephen F. Austin.
Recorded a tackle for loss in the season opener at Toledo.
PERSONAL:
Attended DuSable High School in Chicago, Ill., where he was recognized more for his rushing and passing exploits than that as a linebacker.
Led his team to an undefeated mark in the Chicago Public League's Intra-City Central Conference as a senior and was a two-time All-City and All-Section pick.
Rushed for 2,988 yards, threw for 3,015 and tallied 71 total touchdowns (35 rushing and 36 passing) in his career.
