Freddie Williams (Canadian football)
Freddie Williams Jr. (September 2, 1955 – May 14, 2014) was an American football running back in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for the Saskatchewan Roughriders. He played college football at Arizona State University.
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born: | September 2, 1955 St. Petersburg, Florida, U.S. |
| Died: | May 14, 2014 (aged 58) Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. |
| Height: | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) |
| Weight: | 189 lb (86 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Dixie Hollins (FL) |
| College: | Arizona State |
| Position: | Running back |
| NFL draft: | 1977 / Round: 8 / Pick: 221 |
| Career history | |
| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| Career NFL statistics | |
| Player stats at NFL.com | |
Early years edit
Williams attended Dixie Hollins High School. He accepted a football scholarship from Arizona State University. His teammates gave him the nickname "Fast Freddie".
As a sophomore, he was named the starter at running back after Woody Green graduated. He had a breakout season, leading the Western Athletic Conference in several categories. He posted 249 carries (led the conference), 1,299 rushing yards (led the conference), a 5.2-yard average (led the conference) and 8 rushing touchdowns (second in the conference). He had 23 carries for 216 yards (ninth in school history) and 2 rushing touchdowns against UTEP.[1]
As a junior, he helped the team finish with an undefeated record (12–0),ranking # 2 in both the AP Poll and the Coaches Poll, whis is the highest ranking in school history. The season included a dramatic 17-14 Fiesta Bowl win over the University of Nebraska.[2] Williams also had one of the best rushing seasons in school history, tallying 266 carries (school record) for 1,427 yards, a 5.4-yard average, 9 rushing touchdowns and 8 100-yard games.[3]
As a senior, he was limited with an ankle injury, registering 102 carries (second on the team) for 523 rushing yards (led the team), a 5.1-yard average (led the team), without scoring a touchdown. He finished second in school history with 648 carries for 3,381 rushing yards and 17 100-yard games, while also averaging 5.4 per carry and scoring 19 touchdowns.[1]
In 2002, he was inducted into the Arizona State University Sports Hall of Fame.[1]
Professional career edit
Williams was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the eighth round (221st overall) of the 1977 NFL Draft. He was waived on August 1.[4]
In August 1977, he signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League. In his debut against the Calgary Stampeders, he had 87 rushing yards, a 6.7-yard average and 2 touchdowns.[5] In his second game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, he suffered torn ligaments in his left ankle and did not return to play during the season.[6]
Personal life edit
Williams died on May 14, 2014.[7]
References edit
- ^ a b c "ASU Hall of Famer ?Fast? Freddie Williams Passes Away". Arizona State University Athletics. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ^ "Sun Devils go unbeaten, make Fiesta". Eugene Register-Guard. November 30, 1975.
- ^ May 20, foxsports; ET, 2014 at 7:18p (20 May 2014). "'Fast Freddie' Williams, star ASU back in 1970s, dies". FOX Sports. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Transactions". Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ^ "Fred Williams Statistics". Justsportsstats.com. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ^ "Freddie Williams Out With An Ankle Injury". Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ^ "Fred "Fast Freddie" Williams Jr. Obtuary". Retrieved January 20, 2019.