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Matt Williams (American football)
Encyclopedia
Matt Williams is a former walk on place kicker for the Texas Tech Red Raiders football
team. Williams was offered the position, two others having failed to succeed for the team at that point, after winning a year's worth of free rent in a place kicking contest at one of the Red Raiders games.
, where he played soccer and football. In football, he played both receiver and kicker. His signature moment as a kicker occurred when he kicked a 49-yard field goal through the uprights to defeat rival Mineral Wells High School
in overtime. He graduated from Weatherford in 2006.
as a football player, though was only on the team for a month and never played a game.
. During halftime of Tech's September 20, 2008 football game against Massachusetts, Williams entered a promotional contest in which he made a 30-yard field goal. He caught the attention of head coach Mike Leach, who liked the fundamentals he used on the kick. Leach wanted him on the team, and although it was initially thought he would not be immediately eligible, the NCAA granted a one-time exception based on the specific circumstances. He was allowed to play immediately as he had not been recruited by Tarleton State and also because he was never a scholarship player. However, the season he played on Tarleton State's squad counted toward his eligibility, making him a sophomore during his first year at Tech. He also had to reject the free rent he won in the contest in order to remain eligible.
Williams made his debut in a 63–21 win over Kansas
where he was a perfect 9 for 9 on PATs. Following the game, Williams was recognized as the AT&T ESPN All-America Player of the Week
.
The following week, in Texas Tech's 39–33 victory over Texas
, Williams was also asked to kick field goals, making two and having one blocked.
Texas Tech Red Raiders football
Texas Tech Red Raiders football program is a college football team that represents Texas Tech University . The team competes, as a member of the Big 12 Conference, which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
team. Williams was offered the position, two others having failed to succeed for the team at that point, after winning a year's worth of free rent in a place kicking contest at one of the Red Raiders games.
Early years
Williams attended Weatherford High School in Weatherford, TexasWeatherford, Texas
Weatherford is a city in Parker County, Texas, United States, and a western suburb of Fort Worth. The population was 19,000 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Parker County and is part of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.-Geography:...
, where he played soccer and football. In football, he played both receiver and kicker. His signature moment as a kicker occurred when he kicked a 49-yard field goal through the uprights to defeat rival Mineral Wells High School
Mineral Wells Independent School District
Mineral Wells Independent School District is a public school district based in Mineral Wells, Texas . M.W.I.S.D. is a TEA Recognized School DistrictLocated in Palo Pinto County, a very small part of the district extends into Parker County.-Schools:...
in overtime. He graduated from Weatherford in 2006.
Tarleton State
Williams walked on at Tarleton State UniversityTarleton State University
Tarleton State University is a public, coeducational, state university located in Stephenville, Texas. It is the largest non-land-grant university primarily devoted to agriculture in the United States....
as a football player, though was only on the team for a month and never played a game.
Texas Tech
After two years at Tarleton State, Williams transferred to Texas TechTexas Tech University
Texas Tech University, often referred to as Texas Tech or TTU, is a public research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and originally known as Texas Technological College, it is the leading institution of the Texas Tech University System and has the...
. During halftime of Tech's September 20, 2008 football game against Massachusetts, Williams entered a promotional contest in which he made a 30-yard field goal. He caught the attention of head coach Mike Leach, who liked the fundamentals he used on the kick. Leach wanted him on the team, and although it was initially thought he would not be immediately eligible, the NCAA granted a one-time exception based on the specific circumstances. He was allowed to play immediately as he had not been recruited by Tarleton State and also because he was never a scholarship player. However, the season he played on Tarleton State's squad counted toward his eligibility, making him a sophomore during his first year at Tech. He also had to reject the free rent he won in the contest in order to remain eligible.
Williams made his debut in a 63–21 win over Kansas
Kansas Jayhawks football
The Kansas Jayhawks football program is the intercollegiate football program of the University of Kansas Jayhawks. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I, and the team competes in the Big 12 Conference....
where he was a perfect 9 for 9 on PATs. Following the game, Williams was recognized as the AT&T ESPN All-America Player of the Week
AT&T ESPN All-America Player
The AT&T ESPN All-America Player is a joint marketing venture between AT&T and ESPN that allows fans to select college football's player of the week and player of the year respectively. Each "vote" counts as an entry into an AT&T sweepstakes, usually for a trip to the BCS National Championship...
.
The following week, in Texas Tech's 39–33 victory over Texas
Texas Longhorns football
The Texas Longhorns football program is the intercollegiate football team representing The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas. The team currently competes in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big 12 Conference which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National...
, Williams was also asked to kick field goals, making two and having one blocked.