The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Darious Williams Named to the PFF All-American First Team Defense
12/6/2017 6:36:00 PM | Football
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – 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.
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.
"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."
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
PFF All-American First Team Defense:
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
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.
"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."
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
PFF All-American First Team Defense:
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
Players Mentioned
CB
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