Carnell Williams
Encyclopedia
Carnell Lamar "Cadillac" Williams (born April 21, 1982) is an American football
running back
for the St. Louis Rams
of the National Football League
. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft
. He played college football
for the Auburn University
Tigers
.
, and came out of high school as a very highly rated and very heavily recruited player. He originally committed to the University of Tennessee
but changed when Auburn University
football head coach Tommy Tuberville
visited Williams personally at his home in Gadsden, Alabama
and convinced him to play football at Auburn.
Williams moved on to Auburn University
after graduating from Etowah High School
in Attalla, Alabama
. He got the nickname 'Cadillac' from a TV sportscaster in Alabama for the style and the way he ran...he was a notch above everyone on the field, and the name stuck." While at Auburn University
, he majored in Sociology
. When the season started in 2001, he was a true freshman, and the #3 running back on the depth chart, but in the 8th game of the season he had a break-out game against the University of Arkansas
and showed his outstanding talent and versatility as a running back. After the Arkansas game, Williams was promoted to starting running back. Williams did not miss a beat and in the next game, the annual Deep South's Oldest Rivalry
game against the University of Georgia, he led Auburn to an exciting victory as he amassed 179 yards on an Auburn record 41 carries in one game, and scored 2 touchdowns one of which was the game winner. Unfortunately for Williams, he was injured early in the bitter in-state rivalry game against the University of Alabama
(also known as the Iron Bowl
) with a broken collar bone and had to sit out the rest of the season. Before breaking his collarbone, Williams played in nine games and finished the season with 614 yards on 120 carries (5.1 avg.) and six touchdowns.
The 2002 season started out as a very impressively and promising season for Williams, but unfortunately, it also ended prematurely for him when he broke his lower left fibula against Florida
and missed the last six games of the season. He was able to amass 745 yards on 141 attempts (5.3 avg.) and 10 touchdowns in only seven games prior to the injury.
In 2003, Williams was told that he would share the load at the running back position with fellow running back Ronnie Brown
after Brown had a stellar season the previous year after picking up the starting role at running back when Williams went down with a broken ankle. However, when Brown pulled a hamstring early on in the year, he sat out most of the rest of the season, leaving Williams as the sole starting running back. Williams went on to have a sensational season setting an Auburn
single-season record with 17 touchdowns, and gaining a career high 1,307 yards on 241 attempts (5.4 avg.). The 2003 season was an important season for Williams seeing as it showed that he could stay healthy and still excel on the field on his own.
In 2004, Williams decided along with Brown to return for his senior year at Auburn. This turned out to be a wise decision as he, along with quarterback Jason Campbell
and fellow running back Ronnie Brown and others, helped lead the Tigers to an SEC Championship and Sugar Bowl
winning season with a perfect 13-0 record and finishing a controversial #2 ranking team in the nation behind the University of Southern California
. Williams went on to earn All-American
honors and was named to the All-SEC
first team as both a running back and return specialist. He led the team in rushing for the third time (excluding the 2002 season when he got hurt and Ronnie Brown started) with 1,165 yards on 239 carries (4.9 avg.) and scored 12 touchdowns. He also finished the season with 1,718 all-purpose yards, the third highest single-season output in Auburn
school history. Williams also threw one touchdown pass as a senior, against Georgia
. Some argue that Williams' senior year performance was not as good statistically (4.9 yard rushing average for example, the lowest in his college career) as his others because of poor blocking, while others argue that it was because of all the defenses focusing on him specifically even before the game.
Williams finished his collegiate career with 3,831 yards on 741 attempts (5.2 yards per attempt) and 45 touchdowns, breaking the all-time Auburn
career records of most rushing attempts by Joe Cribbs
(657), and most touchdowns by Bo Jackson
(43), while finishing second in total rushing yards in a career behind Bo Jackson. His career total of 5,033 all-purpose yards also ranks second in school history behind James Brooks
.
Williams also has the distinction of earning nine SEC
Player of the Week honors in his career, the most in conference history.
Note: Bold indicates Auburn University
school record.
and was drafted with the 5th pick of the 1st round by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
. He signed a five year contract with the Bucs
worth $31 million while fellow running backs who were drafted ahead of him, including former Auburn University
teammate Ronnie Brown
, who was drafted 2nd by the Miami Dolphins
, and Cedric Benson
, drafted 4th by the Chicago Bears
, held out of training camp seeking much more lucrative deals.
Jeff Reynolds of Pro Football Weekly predicted Williams was the rookie most likely to have the greatest impact in the 2005 NFL season
, writing that "at the Senior Bowl
, Jon Gruden
was salivating over this kid. He pulled him out real early. Don't think that was a coincidence. He's the offense. Gruden has set it up, Cadillac or bust".
The first half of the season for Williams was an up and down affair. Williams rushed for 434 yards in his first three weeks, setting records as the first rookie running back to ever have three consecutive 100 yard games, and rushing for the most yards in the first three weeks of a career, a record previously held by Alan Ameche
of the 1955 Baltimore Colts
now the Indianapolis Colts
. Williams was also named rookie of the week for the first three weeks of the season and rookie of the month for September. His shoes and gloves from week three were subsequently retired to the Football Hall of Fame
in Canton, Ohio
. In week four however, Williams came down with injuries to his ankle and arch in his right foot, causing him to miss two weeks. In the four games he played since, including the game in which he acquired his injury, Williams only managed to rush for a combined 82 yards on limited carries. However, in his next four games, he averaged over 100 yards per game (408). In his rookie season, Williams has six 100-yard games (in 14 starts, he was out with an injury) and led all rookies in total rushing yards (1,178), rookie of the week honors (3), and finished second, behind Brandon Jacobs
(another former Auburn football
player), for rushing touchdowns (6).
On January 4, 2006, Williams was awarded the Associated Press NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award.
He drew 47 votes of a nationwide panel of 50 sports writers and broadcasters who cover the NFL. He beat the likes of former running mate Ronnie Brown
of Miami
, who received one vote. Tight end Heath Miller
of Pittsburgh
and offensive lineman Logan Mankins
of New England
also received one vote. On February 2, 2006, Williams was announced as the NFL Rookie of the Year Award winner based on the votes of over 1,000,000 visitors to NFL.com.
Williams was unable to match the success of his rookie campaign in the 2006 NFL season
as he failed to reach the 1,000 yard mark. His reduced production was attributed to poor offensive line play and an injury that nagged him all year.
In October 2007, Williams suffered a torn patellar tendon to his right knee against Carolina which required surgery and ended his season. Doctors were doubtful he could ever come back to full strength after this devastating injury. Williams, however, said that he had "no doubt" that he would play in 2008.
By mid-season in 2008, Williams had been practicing with the team and was listed as questionable on the official injury report. By November, he was taken off the PUP
list, and added to the active roster. He played in his first game in 14 months against Detroit. On November 30 against the Saints, he scored his first touchdown since his return. One month later, however, on December 28, Williams suffered a torn patellar tendon to his left knee in the final week of the season against the Oakland Raiders.
On September 20, Williams got his first receiving touchdown of his professional career. It was against the Buffalo Bills
in the 2nd Quarter with 22 seconds left in a 33-20 loss. On December 27, Williams had accomplished the first 100 yard rushing game in the past 2 seasons for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was narrowly edged for the AP 2009 Comeback Player of the Year Award by Tom Brady, finishing second with 15 votes. He rushed for 821 yards on 210 carries with a 3.9 average and 4 touchdowns. He also caught 29 passes for 219 yards and 3 touchdowns.
After Williams' turnaround 2009 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season
, in which he played in all sixteen games for the first time in his career, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
had high hopes for their former National Football League Rookie of the Year Award winner. However, due to the emergence of undrafted rookie sensation LeGarrette Blount
, Williams found himself cemented as primarily the third down running back for the latter half of the 2010 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season
. An upside to this is that Williams was used as a passing threat on third down and finished the season with 46 receptions for 355 yards and 1 touchdown (a come-from-behind, game winning catch from Josh Freeman
with ten seconds left in the fourth quarter on October 24th, 2010 against the St. Louis Rams
). Cadillac finished the 2010 NFL season
with 125 rushing attempts for 437 yards and 2 touchdowns (one against the San Francisco 49ers
and one against the Carolina Panthers
) helping his team to a 10-6 record. The Buccaneers missed the 2010-11 NFL playoffs. Williams became an unrestricted free agent in 2011.
to be the backup for Steven Jackson
. In week 1 of the 2011 NFL season Williams had 91 yards on 19 carries against the Philadelphia Eagles.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
for the St. Louis Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft
2005 NFL Draft
The 2005 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 23–24, 2005. The league also held an supplemental draft that year, which was held after...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
for the Auburn University
Auburn University
Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...
Tigers
Auburn Tigers football
Only Mohamed Amin Abughadir set the record with 1,890 yards in 1 season. He was the QB for Auburn in 1998.The Auburn Tigers football team represents Auburn University in college football as a member of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, competing in the Western Division of the...
.
College career
Williams was born in Gadsden, AlabamaGadsden, Alabama
The city of Gadsden is the county seat of Etowah County in the U.S. state of Alabama, and it is located about 65 miles northeast of Birmingham, Alabama. It is the primary city of the Gadsden Metropolitan Statistical Area, which has a population of 103,459. Gadsden is closely associated with the...
, and came out of high school as a very highly rated and very heavily recruited player. He originally committed to the University of Tennessee
University of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
but changed when Auburn University
Auburn University
Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...
football head coach Tommy Tuberville
Tommy Tuberville
Thomas Hawley Tuberville is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head football coach at Texas Tech University, a position he has held since the 2010 season...
visited Williams personally at his home in Gadsden, Alabama
Gadsden, Alabama
The city of Gadsden is the county seat of Etowah County in the U.S. state of Alabama, and it is located about 65 miles northeast of Birmingham, Alabama. It is the primary city of the Gadsden Metropolitan Statistical Area, which has a population of 103,459. Gadsden is closely associated with the...
and convinced him to play football at Auburn.
Williams moved on to Auburn University
Auburn University
Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...
after graduating from Etowah High School
Etowah High School (Alabama)
Etowah High School is a public high school located in Attalla, Alabama that educates students in grades 9-12, and was founded in 1909. Its mascot is the blue devil. It is currently housed in the third building of the schools history. Etowah has a very outstanding athletic program...
in Attalla, Alabama
Attalla, Alabama
Attalla is a city in Etowah County, Alabama, United States. It is part of the Gadsden Metropolitan Statistical Area. According to the 2005 U.S. Census estimates, the city had a population of 6,474. -2000 Census data:...
. He got the nickname 'Cadillac' from a TV sportscaster in Alabama for the style and the way he ran...he was a notch above everyone on the field, and the name stuck." While at Auburn University
Auburn University
Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...
, he majored in Sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
. When the season started in 2001, he was a true freshman, and the #3 running back on the depth chart, but in the 8th game of the season he had a break-out game against the University of Arkansas
University of Arkansas
The University of Arkansas is a public, co-educational, land-grant, space-grant, research university. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a research university with very high research activity. It is the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas System and is located in...
and showed his outstanding talent and versatility as a running back. After the Arkansas game, Williams was promoted to starting running back. Williams did not miss a beat and in the next game, the annual Deep South's Oldest Rivalry
Deep South's Oldest Rivalry
The Deep South's Oldest Rivalry is an American college football rivalry game played by the Auburn Tigers football team of Auburn University and the Georgia Bulldogs football team of the University of Georgia...
game against the University of Georgia, he led Auburn to an exciting victory as he amassed 179 yards on an Auburn record 41 carries in one game, and scored 2 touchdowns one of which was the game winner. Unfortunately for Williams, he was injured early in the bitter in-state rivalry game against the University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
(also known as the Iron Bowl
Iron Bowl
The Iron Bowl is an American college football rivalry game played annually by the Alabama Crimson Tide football team of the University of Alabama and the Auburn Tigers football team of Auburn University. The series is considered one of the best and most hard-fought rivalries in all of sports...
) with a broken collar bone and had to sit out the rest of the season. Before breaking his collarbone, Williams played in nine games and finished the season with 614 yards on 120 carries (5.1 avg.) and six touchdowns.
The 2002 season started out as a very impressively and promising season for Williams, but unfortunately, it also ended prematurely for him when he broke his lower left fibula against Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
and missed the last six games of the season. He was able to amass 745 yards on 141 attempts (5.3 avg.) and 10 touchdowns in only seven games prior to the injury.
In 2003, Williams was told that he would share the load at the running back position with fellow running back Ronnie Brown
Ronnie Brown
Ronnie G. Brown, Jr. is an American football running back for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League . After graduating from Cartersville High School in Georgia, Brown attended Auburn University to play college football for the Auburn Tigers...
after Brown had a stellar season the previous year after picking up the starting role at running back when Williams went down with a broken ankle. However, when Brown pulled a hamstring early on in the year, he sat out most of the rest of the season, leaving Williams as the sole starting running back. Williams went on to have a sensational season setting an Auburn
Auburn Tigers football
Only Mohamed Amin Abughadir set the record with 1,890 yards in 1 season. He was the QB for Auburn in 1998.The Auburn Tigers football team represents Auburn University in college football as a member of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, competing in the Western Division of the...
single-season record with 17 touchdowns, and gaining a career high 1,307 yards on 241 attempts (5.4 avg.). The 2003 season was an important season for Williams seeing as it showed that he could stay healthy and still excel on the field on his own.
In 2004, Williams decided along with Brown to return for his senior year at Auburn. This turned out to be a wise decision as he, along with quarterback Jason Campbell
Jason Campbell
Jason Campbell is an American football quarterback for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
and fellow running back Ronnie Brown and others, helped lead the Tigers to an SEC Championship and Sugar Bowl
Sugar Bowl
The Sugar Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game played in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Sugar Bowl has been played annually since January 1, 1935, and celebrated its 75th anniversary on January 2, 2009...
winning season with a perfect 13-0 record and finishing a controversial #2 ranking team in the nation behind the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
. Williams went on to earn All-American
2004 College Football All-America Team
The 2004 College Football All-America Team is composed of the following All-American Teams: Associated Press, Football Writers Association of America, American Football Coaches Association, Walter Camp Foundation, The Sporting News, Sports Illustrated, Pro Football Weekly, ESPN, CBS Sports, College...
honors and was named to the All-SEC
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
first team as both a running back and return specialist. He led the team in rushing for the third time (excluding the 2002 season when he got hurt and Ronnie Brown started) with 1,165 yards on 239 carries (4.9 avg.) and scored 12 touchdowns. He also finished the season with 1,718 all-purpose yards, the third highest single-season output in Auburn
Auburn University
Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...
school history. Williams also threw one touchdown pass as a senior, against Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
. Some argue that Williams' senior year performance was not as good statistically (4.9 yard rushing average for example, the lowest in his college career) as his others because of poor blocking, while others argue that it was because of all the defenses focusing on him specifically even before the game.
Williams finished his collegiate career with 3,831 yards on 741 attempts (5.2 yards per attempt) and 45 touchdowns, breaking the all-time Auburn
Auburn Tigers football
Only Mohamed Amin Abughadir set the record with 1,890 yards in 1 season. He was the QB for Auburn in 1998.The Auburn Tigers football team represents Auburn University in college football as a member of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, competing in the Western Division of the...
career records of most rushing attempts by Joe Cribbs
Joe Cribbs
Joe Stanier Cribbs is a retired National Football League and United States Football League football running back. He played collegiately at Auburn University along with future NFL backs William Andrews and James Brooks...
(657), and most touchdowns by Bo Jackson
Bo Jackson
Vincent Edward "Bo" Jackson is a former American baseball and football player. He was the first athlete to be named an All-Star in two major American sports, and also won the Heisman Trophy in 1985....
(43), while finishing second in total rushing yards in a career behind Bo Jackson. His career total of 5,033 all-purpose yards also ranks second in school history behind James Brooks
James Brooks (American football player)
James Brooks is a retired NFL football running back.-High school and college career:His young career started with success in elementary school. He led the Warner Robins High School Demons to a State championship and a National Championship ranking in 1976...
.
Williams also has the distinction of earning nine SEC
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
Player of the Week honors in his career, the most in conference history.
Collegiate statistics
Note: Bold indicates Auburn University
Auburn University
Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...
school record.
Professional career
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Williams entered the 2005 NFL Draft2005 NFL Draft
The 2005 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 23–24, 2005. The league also held an supplemental draft that year, which was held after...
and was drafted with the 5th pick of the 1st round by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
. He signed a five year contract with the Bucs
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
worth $31 million while fellow running backs who were drafted ahead of him, including former Auburn University
Auburn University
Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...
teammate Ronnie Brown
Ronnie Brown
Ronnie G. Brown, Jr. is an American football running back for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League . After graduating from Cartersville High School in Georgia, Brown attended Auburn University to play college football for the Auburn Tigers...
, who was drafted 2nd by the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, and Cedric Benson
Cedric Benson
Cedric Myron Benson is an American football running back for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears fourth overall in the 2005 NFL Draft...
, drafted 4th by the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, held out of training camp seeking much more lucrative deals.
Jeff Reynolds of Pro Football Weekly predicted Williams was the rookie most likely to have the greatest impact in the 2005 NFL season
2005 NFL season
The 2005 NFL season was the 86th regular season of the National Football League.With the New England Patriots as the defending league champions, regular season play was held from September 8, 2005 to January 1, 2006...
, writing that "at the Senior Bowl
Senior Bowl
The Senior Bowl is a post-season college football exhibition game played in Mobile, Alabama which showcases the best NFL Draft prospects of those collegiate players who have completed their eligibility. First played in 1950 in Jacksonville, Florida, the game moved to Mobile's Ladd Peebles Stadium...
, Jon Gruden
Jon Gruden
Jon David Gruden is an American football analyst and former head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for seven seasons and prior to that the Oakland Raiders for four seasons. In his first year as the head coach of Tampa Bay, the Buccaneers won Super Bowl XXXVII, defeating the Raiders whom he had...
was salivating over this kid. He pulled him out real early. Don't think that was a coincidence. He's the offense. Gruden has set it up, Cadillac or bust".
The first half of the season for Williams was an up and down affair. Williams rushed for 434 yards in his first three weeks, setting records as the first rookie running back to ever have three consecutive 100 yard games, and rushing for the most yards in the first three weeks of a career, a record previously held by Alan Ameche
Alan Ameche
Lino Dante "Alan" Ameche , nicknamed "The Horse", was an American football player who played six seasons with the Baltimore Colts in the National Football League after winning the Heisman Trophy in college at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He was elected to the Pro Bowl in each of his first...
of the 1955 Baltimore Colts
History of the Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional football team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They play in the AFC South division of the National Football League. They have won 3 NFL championships and 2 Super Bowls....
now the Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
. Williams was also named rookie of the week for the first three weeks of the season and rookie of the month for September. His shoes and gloves from week three were subsequently retired to the Football Hall of Fame
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
in Canton, Ohio
Canton, Ohio
Canton is the county seat of Stark County in northeastern Ohio, approximately south of Akron and south of Cleveland.The City of Caton is the largest incorporated area within the Canton-Massillon Metropolitan Statistical Area...
. In week four however, Williams came down with injuries to his ankle and arch in his right foot, causing him to miss two weeks. In the four games he played since, including the game in which he acquired his injury, Williams only managed to rush for a combined 82 yards on limited carries. However, in his next four games, he averaged over 100 yards per game (408). In his rookie season, Williams has six 100-yard games (in 14 starts, he was out with an injury) and led all rookies in total rushing yards (1,178), rookie of the week honors (3), and finished second, behind Brandon Jacobs
Brandon Jacobs
-New York Giants:Going into the 2006 season Jacobs stated that he studied film of famed power running back Eddie George in an effort to refine his running style. George, like Jacobs, was a large, power running back. In the 2006 season, Jacobs carried the ball 96 times for 423 yards and nine...
(another former Auburn football
Auburn Tigers football
Only Mohamed Amin Abughadir set the record with 1,890 yards in 1 season. He was the QB for Auburn in 1998.The Auburn Tigers football team represents Auburn University in college football as a member of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, competing in the Western Division of the...
player), for rushing touchdowns (6).
On January 4, 2006, Williams was awarded the Associated Press NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award.
NFL Rookie of the Year Award
Since 1967, the Associated Press has given two annual Rookie of the Year Awards to National Football League players: one for an offensive player and one for a defensive player. These two are often regarded as the "official" awards...
He drew 47 votes of a nationwide panel of 50 sports writers and broadcasters who cover the NFL. He beat the likes of former running mate Ronnie Brown
Ronnie Brown
Ronnie G. Brown, Jr. is an American football running back for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League . After graduating from Cartersville High School in Georgia, Brown attended Auburn University to play college football for the Auburn Tigers...
of Miami
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, who received one vote. Tight end Heath Miller
Heath Miller
Earl Heath Miller, Jr. is an American football tight end for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the NFL. He was selected as the 30th overall pick of the 2005 NFL Draft out of the University of Virginia.-Early years:...
of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
and offensive lineman Logan Mankins
Logan Mankins
-2005–06 seasons:Mankins was drafted with the final pick of the first round, 32nd overall, in the 2005 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots. Despite playing his entire collegiate career as a tackle, Mankins was moved to left guard by the Patriots, where he immediately stepped into the starting...
of New England
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
also received one vote. On February 2, 2006, Williams was announced as the NFL Rookie of the Year Award winner based on the votes of over 1,000,000 visitors to NFL.com.
Williams was unable to match the success of his rookie campaign in the 2006 NFL season
2006 NFL season
The 2006 NFL season was the 87th regular season of the National Football League.Regular season play was held from September 7 to December 31, 2006...
as he failed to reach the 1,000 yard mark. His reduced production was attributed to poor offensive line play and an injury that nagged him all year.
In October 2007, Williams suffered a torn patellar tendon to his right knee against Carolina which required surgery and ended his season. Doctors were doubtful he could ever come back to full strength after this devastating injury. Williams, however, said that he had "no doubt" that he would play in 2008.
By mid-season in 2008, Williams had been practicing with the team and was listed as questionable on the official injury report. By November, he was taken off the PUP
Physically Unable to Perform
Players can be labeled Physically Unable to Perform in the National Football League if they suffer from football-related injuries during the preseason...
list, and added to the active roster. He played in his first game in 14 months against Detroit. On November 30 against the Saints, he scored his first touchdown since his return. One month later, however, on December 28, Williams suffered a torn patellar tendon to his left knee in the final week of the season against the Oakland Raiders.
On September 20, Williams got his first receiving touchdown of his professional career. It was against the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the 2nd Quarter with 22 seconds left in a 33-20 loss. On December 27, Williams had accomplished the first 100 yard rushing game in the past 2 seasons for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was narrowly edged for the AP 2009 Comeback Player of the Year Award by Tom Brady, finishing second with 15 votes. He rushed for 821 yards on 210 carries with a 3.9 average and 4 touchdowns. He also caught 29 passes for 219 yards and 3 touchdowns.
After Williams' turnaround 2009 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season
2009 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season
The 2009 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season was the franchise's 34th season as a franchise in the NFL. The Buccaneers looked to improve on their 9–7 record from their 2008 season and 3rd place finish in the NFC South but failed to do so as they finished the season at 3–13, missing the playoffs for the...
, in which he played in all sixteen games for the first time in his career, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
had high hopes for their former National Football League Rookie of the Year Award winner. However, due to the emergence of undrafted rookie sensation LeGarrette Blount
LeGarrette Blount
LeGarrette Montez Blount is an American football running back for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League. He was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent in 2010....
, Williams found himself cemented as primarily the third down running back for the latter half of the 2010 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season
2010 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season
The 2010 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season was the club's 35th season as a franchise in the NFL. The Buccaneers entered the season attempting to improve on their 3–13 record and last place finish in the NFC South in 2009, a feat they accomplished after only six games...
. An upside to this is that Williams was used as a passing threat on third down and finished the season with 46 receptions for 355 yards and 1 touchdown (a come-from-behind, game winning catch from Josh Freeman
Josh Freeman
-2009:On November 8, 2009, Freeman started his first professional game at home against the Green Bay Packers. The Buccaneers won, ending an 11-game losing streak. He completed 14 out of 31 passes for 205 yards, 3 passing touchdowns, and 1 INT, including a fourth down touchdown pass to rookie Sammie...
with ten seconds left in the fourth quarter on October 24th, 2010 against the St. Louis Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
). Cadillac finished the 2010 NFL season
2010 NFL season
The 2010 NFL season was the 91st regular season of the National Football League.The regular season began with the NFL Kickoff game on NBC on Thursday, September 9, at the Louisiana Superdome as the New Orleans Saints, Super Bowl XLIV champions, defeated the Minnesota Vikings 14–9.Tom Brady,...
with 125 rushing attempts for 437 yards and 2 touchdowns (one against the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
and one against the Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
) helping his team to a 10-6 record. The Buccaneers missed the 2010-11 NFL playoffs. Williams became an unrestricted free agent in 2011.
St. Louis Rams
On August 3, 2011, Williams signed with the St. Louis RamsSt. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
to be the backup for Steven Jackson
Steven Jackson
Steven Rashad Jackson is an American football running back for the St. Louis Rams of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Rams 24th overall in the 2004 NFL Draft. He played college football at Oregon State University....
. In week 1 of the 2011 NFL season Williams had 91 yards on 19 carries against the Philadelphia Eagles.
External links
- CadillacWilliams.com
- NFL.com Player Page
- Pro-Football-Reference.com - Current Stats
- http://www.ahsaa.com/records/football-indiv.asp
- http://www.juicedsportsblog.com/2007/08/cadillac-williams-herniated-disks.htmlESPN's Will CarrollWill CarrollWill Carroll is a sportswriter specializing in the coverage of medical issues, including injuries and performance-enhancing drugs. He currently writes about sports injuries for SI.com...
Says Williams Has Herniated Disks]