Elijah Williams (American football)
Encyclopedia
Elijah Elgebra Williams is a former American college and professional football
player who was a defensive back
and kick returner
in the National Football League
(NFL) for four seasons in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Williams played college football
for the University of Florida
, and thereafter he played professionally for the Atlanta Falcons
of the NFL.
in 1975. He attended Milton High School, and played high school football
for the Milton Panthers.
to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida
, where he played for coach Steve Spurrier
's Florida Gators football
teams from 1994 to 1997. Memorably, he ran for 109 yards versus LSU Tigers
and 116 yards against the Auburn Tigers
in 1996 Williams led the Gators in rushing yardage in 1995 and 1996, and finished his four-year college career with 3,023 all-purpose yards—2,181 rushing and 842 receiving. During his four college seasons, the Florida Gators won Southeastern conference
(SEC) championships in 1994, 1995 and 1996, and the 1996 national championship when they defeated the Florida State Seminoles
52–20 in the Sugar Bowl
. He was chosen as a senior team captain
in 1997.
Williams returned to Gainesville when his NFL career was over, and graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor's degree
in health science education in 2003.
, and he played for the Falcons in fifty games over four seasons from to . He saw limited action as a running back, and played mostly on special teams as a kick returner and as a backup defensive back.
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...
player who was a defensive back
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
and kick returner
Kick returner
In American and Canadian football, a kick returner is the player on special teams who is primarily responsible to catch kickoffs and attempts to return them in the opposite direction. If the ball is kicked into his own endzone, he must assess the situation on the field while the ball is in the...
in 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...
(NFL) for four seasons in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Williams 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 University of 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 thereafter he played professionally for the Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the NFL.
Early years
Williams was born in Milton, FloridaMilton, Florida
Milton , or Milltown, because Milton had the largest mill around) is a city in Santa Rosa County, Florida, United States. The city was incorporated in 1844 and is home to Naval Air Station Whiting Field. The population was 7,045 at the 2000 census. In 2004, the population recorded by the U.S...
in 1975. He attended Milton High School, and played high school football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
for the Milton Panthers.
College career
Williams received an athletic scholarshipAthletic scholarship
An athletic scholarship is a form of scholarship to attend a college or university awarded to an individual based predominantly on his or her ability to play in a sport...
to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Alachua County, Florida, United States as well as the principal city of the Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area . The preliminary 2010 Census population count for Gainesville is 124,354. Gainesville is home to the sixth...
, where he played for coach Steve Spurrier
Steve Spurrier
Stephen Orr Spurrier is an American college football coach and player. Spurrier is the current head coach of the University of South Carolina's Gamecocks football team. He is also a former professional player and coach...
's Florida Gators football
Florida Gators football
The Florida Gators football team represents the University of Florida in the sport of American football. The Florida Gators compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletics Association and the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference...
teams from 1994 to 1997. Memorably, he ran for 109 yards versus LSU Tigers
1996 LSU Tigers football team
The 1996 LSU Tigers football team represented Louisiana State University in the 1996 NCAA Division I-A football season. LSU finished with a 10–2 overall record after defeating Clemson Tigers, 10–7, in the Peach Bowl...
and 116 yards against the Auburn Tigers
1996 Auburn Tigers football team
The 1996 Auburn Tigers football team represented Auburn University in the 1996 NCAA Division I-A football season.Coached by Terry Bowden, they tallied an 8–4 record, played in the , and finished the season ranked #22 in the AP Poll and #21 in the Coaches' Poll.-Schedule:...
in 1996 Williams led the Gators in rushing yardage in 1995 and 1996, and finished his four-year college career with 3,023 all-purpose yards—2,181 rushing and 842 receiving. During his four college seasons, the Florida Gators won Southeastern conference
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...
(SEC) championships in 1994, 1995 and 1996, and the 1996 national championship when they defeated the Florida State Seminoles
Florida State Seminoles football
The Florida State Seminoles football team represents Florida State University in college football. The Florida State Seminoles compete in NCAA Division I-FBS and are members of the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
52–20 in the Sugar Bowl
1997 Sugar Bowl
The 1997 Sugar Bowl was the 63rd edition to the annual game. It featured the top ranked , and their heated rivals, the third ranked Florida Gators. It was the designated National Championship Game for the 1996-97 season by the Bowl Alliance. The match up was supposed to feature the top two teams...
. He was chosen as a senior team captain
Captain (sports)
In team sports, a captain is a title given to a member of the team. The title is frequently honorary, but in some cases the captain may have significant responsibility for strategy and teamwork while the game is in progress on the field...
in 1997.
Williams returned to Gainesville when his NFL career was over, and graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in health science education in 2003.
Professional career
The Atlanta Falcons chose Williams in the sixth round (166th pick overall) in the 1998 NFL Draft1998 NFL Draft
The 1998 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 18-19, 1998...
, and he played for the Falcons in fifty games over four seasons from to . He saw limited action as a running back, and played mostly on special teams as a kick returner and as a backup defensive back.
See also
- Florida GatorsFlorida GatorsThe Florida Gators are the intercollegiate sports teams that represent the University of Florida located in Gainesville, Florida. The "Lady Gators" is an alternative nickname sometimes used by the Gators women's teams...
- Florida Gators football, 1990–1999
- History of the Atlanta FalconsHistory of the Atlanta FalconsThe history of the Atlanta Falcons dates back when the Falcons joined the National Football League as a 1966 expansion team.-1965–1969:...
- List of Florida Gators football players
- List of University of Florida alumni