The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Darious Williams Named to the PFF All-American First Team Defense
12/6/2017 6:36:00β―PM | Football
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. β Having proven to be one of the best cornerbacks in the nation, senior defensive back Darious Williams has been named to the Pro Football Focus (PFF) All-American First Team Defense, the national football organization announced on Wednesday.
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Williams has already been rewarded for his on-field heroics this year as he was named First Team All-Conference USA on Tuesday. He is the first Blazer to garner recognition from the PFF.
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"Darious is the classic example of seizing an opportunity and making the most of it," head coach Bill Clark said. "Starting his career as a walk-on to now earning All-America honors with a legitimate chance to play at the next level, I can't say enough good things about him. He has had a monster year and I am excited for him to finish it off with another strong showing in the Bahamas."
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The Jacksonville, Florida native played the best football of his career in his final season in the Green and Gold en route to his selection as a defensive All-American. He is currently tied for second nationally in passes defended with 20 (1.7/game) and leads C-USA in pass breakups (15) and interceptions (five) this season.
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Williams' most dominant defensive effort came in The Swamp on Nov. 18 as the senior returned to his home state of Florida and posted career-high four PBU against the Florida Gators.
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Another impressive stat line was Williams' four-game interception streak between Oct. 14 and Nov. 4, making him the only player in the nation to record a streak that long. His final pick of the season came in UAB's final game of the season against UTEP.
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His five interceptions helped the Blazer defense finish with 14 interceptions during the regular season, the third most in C-USA behind Florida Atlantic (18) and Louisiana Tech (16). Ten of the 14 interceptions have come in the last seven games.
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The senior is one of two players from C-USA to be named to the First Team Defense, joining Southern Miss safety Tarvarius Moore on the 12-man roster.
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Williams and the Blazers take on Ohio University (8-4) in the Bahamas Bowl on Dec. 22 at 11:30 a.m. CST from Thomas A. Robinson Memorial Stadium. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN.
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PFF All-American First Team Defense:
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Edge: Sutton Smith - Northern Illinois
Edge: Nick Bosa - Ohio State
DL: Maurice Hurst - Michigan
DL: Will Geary - Kansas State
LB: Joe Giles-Harris - Duke
LB: Roquan Smith - Georgia
LB: Ja'Whaun Bentley - Purdue
CB: Joshua Jackson - Iowa
CB: Darious Williams - UAB
FLEX: Denzel Ward - Ohio State
S: Derwin James - Florida State
S: Tarvarius Moore - Southern Miss
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Williams has already been rewarded for his on-field heroics this year as he was named First Team All-Conference USA on Tuesday. He is the first Blazer to garner recognition from the PFF.
Β
"Darious is the classic example of seizing an opportunity and making the most of it," head coach Bill Clark said. "Starting his career as a walk-on to now earning All-America honors with a legitimate chance to play at the next level, I can't say enough good things about him. He has had a monster year and I am excited for him to finish it off with another strong showing in the Bahamas."
Β
The Jacksonville, Florida native played the best football of his career in his final season in the Green and Gold en route to his selection as a defensive All-American. He is currently tied for second nationally in passes defended with 20 (1.7/game) and leads C-USA in pass breakups (15) and interceptions (five) this season.
Β
Williams' most dominant defensive effort came in The Swamp on Nov. 18 as the senior returned to his home state of Florida and posted career-high four PBU against the Florida Gators.
Β
Another impressive stat line was Williams' four-game interception streak between Oct. 14 and Nov. 4, making him the only player in the nation to record a streak that long. His final pick of the season came in UAB's final game of the season against UTEP.
Β
His five interceptions helped the Blazer defense finish with 14 interceptions during the regular season, the third most in C-USA behind Florida Atlantic (18) and Louisiana Tech (16). Ten of the 14 interceptions have come in the last seven games.
Β
The senior is one of two players from C-USA to be named to the First Team Defense, joining Southern Miss safety Tarvarius Moore on the 12-man roster.
Β
Williams and the Blazers take on Ohio University (8-4) in the Bahamas Bowl on Dec. 22 at 11:30 a.m. CST from Thomas A. Robinson Memorial Stadium. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN.
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PFF All-American First Team Defense:
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Edge: Sutton Smith - Northern Illinois
Edge: Nick Bosa - Ohio State
DL: Maurice Hurst - Michigan
DL: Will Geary - Kansas State
LB: Joe Giles-Harris - Duke
LB: Roquan Smith - Georgia
LB: Ja'Whaun Bentley - Purdue
CB: Joshua Jackson - Iowa
CB: Darious Williams - UAB
FLEX: Denzel Ward - Ohio State
S: Derwin James - Florida State
S: Tarvarius Moore - Southern Miss
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Players Mentioned
CB
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