CONTENTS n n n - of College Football Games
CONTENTS n n n - of College Football Games
CONTENTS n n n - of College Football Games
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The Un i v e r s i T y <strong>of</strong> Ak r o n • 2008 fo o T b A l l Me d i A GU i d e<br />
PLAYER BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES<br />
#25 AAr o n wi l l i A m s<br />
6-0, 210, Fr., LB<br />
Pittsburgh, Pa. (Penn Hills HS)<br />
Part <strong>of</strong> Akron’s 2007 singing class, but did not enroll<br />
at Akron until January 2008 and will be listed as a true<br />
freshman for the 2008 season.<br />
Prior to Akron: Tabbed second team Class AAAA Associated<br />
Press All-State honors ... One <strong>of</strong> five finalist<br />
for the Maxwell Award, which goes to the top football<br />
player in Western Pennsylvania … Named to the<br />
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette “Fabulous 22” team and was<br />
named first team all-conference by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette … Selected to<br />
the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review “Terrific 25” team … Ranked as the 23rd-best<br />
weakside linebacker in the nation and the 35th-best overall prospect in Pennsylvania<br />
by Scout.com … As a senior, gained 1,189 yards and rushed for 12<br />
touchdowns on 195 carries.<br />
Personal: Born on December 18, 1988 in Pittsburgh, Pa. … Son <strong>of</strong> Michael and<br />
Louise Williams.<br />
#17 BrA n d o n wi l l i A m s<br />
6-0, 180, Sr., WR<br />
Tampa, Fla. (Chamberlain HS)<br />
Junior (2007): Played in all 12 games, getting four starts<br />
(Indiana, Kent State, Miami and Central Michigan) …<br />
Caught 11 passes for 78 yards … Recorded a careerhigh<br />
three receptions (for 13 yards) at Ohio State … Had<br />
17 receiving yards versus Indiana (two receptions) and<br />
at Miami (one reception) … Added a 15-yard reception<br />
at Bowling Green.<br />
Sophomore (2006): Saw action in the North Texas contest.<br />
Redshirt Freshman (2005): Appeared in two games at wide receiver, vs. Ohio<br />
and at Miami.<br />
Freshman (2004): Redshirted.<br />
Prior to Akron: An All-Hillsboro County choice as a senior ... Posted 45 receptions<br />
for 579 yards and five touchdowns in 2003 ... A second team all-conference<br />
performer as a senior ... Registered 36 catches for 405 yards and seven touchdowns<br />
as a junior when Chamberlain posted a 9-1 record and advanced to the<br />
second round <strong>of</strong> the state play<strong>of</strong>fs ... Also lettered two years in track ... Teammate<br />
<strong>of</strong> current Zips player Doug Williams, though not related ... Coached by<br />
Billy Turner.<br />
Personal: Born on January 17, 1986, in St. Augustine, Fla.<br />
48<br />
ReceiViNG G Rec yds TD lg Rec/G Avg/c Avg/G<br />
2005 2/0 0 0 0 -- -- -- --<br />
2006 1/0 0 0 0 -- -- -- --<br />
2007 12/4 11 78 0 17 0.9 7.1 6.5<br />
ToTAl 15/4 11 78 0 17 0.7 7.1 5.2<br />
Akron’s 66th and Final Season at the Rubber Bowl<br />
#24 Br y A n wi l l i A m s<br />
5-11, 200, Sr., DB<br />
Akron, Ohio (Valley Forge (Pa.) Acad./Buchtel HS)<br />
2008 Preseason second team All-American kick returner<br />
by Consensus Draft Services … Unanimous first<br />
team preseason All-mAc as a kick returner … Despite<br />
being tabbed third team All-MAC as a running back in<br />
2007, moved to defense (strong safety) in the spring<br />
<strong>of</strong> 2008 … Was highly-recruited as a defensive back<br />
coming out <strong>of</strong> high school but was forced to play running<br />
back in 2007 due to a lack <strong>of</strong> depth at the position<br />
(as well as the great depth on defense).<br />
Junior (2007): Named third team All-mid-American conference both as a<br />
running back and return specialist … Ranked second in the NcAA in kick<strong>of</strong>f<br />
return average and first in the MAC (31.90) … His KOR average was additionally<br />
an Akron single-season record and ranked second on the MAC seasonal<br />
list (the record is 32.9 by Marshall’s James Williams in 1999) … The first time he<br />
touched the ball – the opening kick<strong>of</strong>f versus Army – Williams returned the ball<br />
70 yards, setting up a UA field goal for an early 3-0 lead … Other big games as<br />
a kick returner included two returns <strong>of</strong> 117 yards versus Kent State, three for<br />
105 yards at Connecticut and four for 151 yards versus Ohio … In the win over<br />
the Bobcats, Williams returned a kick 95 yards for a touchdown and was named<br />
mAc east Special Teams Player <strong>of</strong> the week … As a running back, he only<br />
had 728 yards on the season ... However, he had 612 <strong>of</strong> those yards in league<br />
play, averaging 4.9 yards per carry versus MAC opponents ... Although Western<br />
Michigan kicked away from Williams, the junior still had a big role in the Zips<br />
win, getting 72 yards on 14 rushes (5.1 avg.) and catching three passes for 74<br />
yards with a 60-yard TD ... The following week, Williams broke the century mark<br />
for the first time, gaining 114 yards on 22 attempts versus Temple ... He capped<br />
the season with a career effort versus Central Michigan, gaining 145 yards on 18<br />
attempts (8.1 avg.) thanks to TD runs <strong>of</strong> 61 and 56 yards … Ended the season<br />
10th in the MAC in rushing yards (60.67 per game) and seventh in all-purpose<br />
yards per game (133.50), which also ranked 49th in the NCAA … Ranked second<br />
on the team with 22 receptions, thanks to a five-reception game at Buffalo …<br />
Named Akron’s Most Valuable Offensive Back.
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