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Bennett Williams

Williams with the Ottawa Redblacks in 2024
No. 14 – Ottawa Redblacks
Position:	Defensive back
Personal information
Born:	(1999-02-26) February 26, 1999 (age 25) Campbell, California, U. S.
Height:	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:	205 lb (93 kg)
Career information
High school:	St. Francis (Mountain View, California)
College:	Illinois (2017) San Mateo (2018–2019) Oregon (2020–2022)
Undrafted:	2023
Career history
Miami Dolphins (2023)* Ottawa Redblacks (2024–present)
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Bennett Williams (born February 26, 1999) is an American professional football defensive back for the Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at Illinois, San Mateo, and Oregon.

Early life

Williams was born on February 26, 1999, in Campbell, California. Williams attended St. Francis High School in Mountain View, California where he played as a wide receiver and cornerback. On offense brought in 40 receptions, for 824 yards, and eight touchdowns. On defense he made 166 tackles, with seven going for a loss, 46 pass defelections, 17 interceptions, and three forced fumbles. On January 31, 2017, Williams would decide to commit to Illinois to play college football over other school such as Air Force, Columbia, Harvard, Hawaii, San Jose State, Yale, and UNLV. He is the brother of NFL safety Evan Williams, a fourth round draft pick of the Green Bay Packers in 2024.

College career

Illinois

In Williams first season with Illinois he put up 64 tackles, 1.5 going for a loss, three interceptions, two pass deflections, and a forced fumble. For his stellar freshman performance he was named to the Freshman All-American team. To begain Williams sophomore year he was suspended for the first three games of the season. After one year with Illinois, he was dismissed from the team after a violation of team rules.

San Mateo

After being dismissed from Illinois, Williams would transfer to the College of San Mateo to continue playing football. In his time with San Mateo, Williams was named a Junior College All American, while also being named first-team All-Bay and earning all-conference honors. Williams would also help lead San Mateo to its first state title.

Oregon

After one year at San Mateo, Williams transferred to Oregon in 2020. In his first season with Oregon he played in six games, making 15 tackles, including two tackles for a loss, a sack, and two pass deflections.

On September 25, 2021, Williams had his breakout game notching two interceptions, including returning one for a 68-yard touchdown, to help the #3 Ducks, beat Arizona 41–19. For his performance in his breakout game he was named the Walter Camp Defensive Player of the Week. However just over a week later, Williams would suffer a broken fibula which would cause him to miss the rest of the regular season. Williams would however be cleared to play in the team's bowl game. Williams would finish his shortend year 20 tackles, with one going for a loss, three interceptions, and an touchdown, in five games.

On November 21, 2022, Williams had one of the best games of his career after racking up 14 tackles, and two interceptions, to help the Ducks upset #10 Utah and help the Ducks keep their chance of reaching the College Football Playoff alive. Williams would finish the season playing in 13 games, while making 72 tackles, with 1.5 being for a loss, a sack, two interceptions, six pass deflections, and two forced fumbles.

Professional career

Miami Dolphins

After going unselected in the 2023 NFL draft, Williams signed with the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent. He was waived on August 2, 2023.

Ottawa Redblacks

Williams signed with the Ottawa Redblacks on March 11, 2024. In the 2024 season, he played in 11 regular season games, starting in six, where he had 27 defensive tackles, two special teams tackles, two pass knockdowns, and one sack.

References

1. "Football Stats". Max Preps. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
2. Sabedra, Darren. "Football recruiting: St. Francis' Bennett Williams chooses Illinois". Mercury News. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
3. Vainisi, Jim. "Three-star DB Bennett Williams commits to Illinois Football". The Champaign Room. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
4. "2017 Illinois Fighting Illini Stats". Sports Reference. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
5. Schutte, Dustin. "ESPN unveils Freshman All-America team". Saturday Tradition. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
6. Holleran, Andrew. "A Major Program Just Announced 5 Suspensions Right Before Kickoff". The Spun. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
7. "Bennett Williams: 'I take full responsibility for my actions'". 247Sports. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
8. Schutte, Dustin. "Illinois DB dismissed for another violation of team rules". Saturday Tradition. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
9. Friis, Daniel. "Bennett Williams: junior college football legend". Daily Emerald. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
10. "Bennett Williams". Oregon University Athletics. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
11. Mazeika, Vytas. "College of San Mateo seeks its first state football title". The Mercury News. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
12. "Ducks Secure Commitment from Former ESPN All-American Safety". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
13. Nemec, Andrew. "Bennett Williams, former ESPN Freshman All-American safety, commits to Oregon Ducks". Oregon Live. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
14. "2020 Oregon Ducks Stats". Sports Reference. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
15. Crepea, James. "Bennett Williams' 2 interceptions, including pick-six, lead Oregon Ducks defense to most interceptions since 1999". Oregon Live. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
16. "WATCH: Bennett Williams breaks down his Pick-Six, two INT performance". 247Sports. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
17. Crepea, James. "Oregon Ducks nickel Bennett Williams named Walter Camp national FBS defensive player of the week". Oregon Live. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
18. "Oregon's Bennett Williams Named Walter Camp Defensive Player of the Week". Fox Sports Eugene. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
19. Hansen, Chris. "No. 8 Oregon football's CJ Verdell and Bennett Williams suffer season-ending injuries". The Registar Guard. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
20. Neel, Zachary. "Bennett Williams is cleared to play for Oregon Ducks in Alamo Bowl after suffering broken fibula". Ducks Wire. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
21. "2021 Oregon Ducks Stats". Sports Reference. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
22. Crepea, James. "Oregon Ducks safety Bennett Williams has best game of his career with 14 tackles, 2 interceptions against Utah". Oregon Live. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
23. "Bennett Williams named Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week". 750 The Game. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
24. Slinde, Erin. "Oregon football proves toughness in win over Utah". KCBY 11. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
25. "2022 Oregon Ducks Stats". Sports Reference. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
26. "2023 NFL Draft Scout Bennett Williams College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
27. Crepea, James. "Oregon Ducks safety Bennett Williams signs as undrafted free agent with Miami Dolphins". Oregon Live. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
28. Smalley, Don. "Oregon safety Bennett Williams signs with Miami Dolphins as non-drafted free agent". Ducks Wire. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
29. "Dolphins waive two players, sign another". SBNation.com. August 2, 2023.
30. "Bennett Williams". Retrieved May 30, 2024.
31. "Game Notes" (PDF). Canadian Football League. Retrieved November 2, 2024.

External links

• Ottawa Redblacks bio
• Illinois Fighting Illini bio
• Oregon Ducks bio

• Living people
• 1999 births
• Players of American football from Santa Clara County, California
• Sportspeople from Campbell, California
• American football safeties
• Saint Francis High School (Mountain View, California) alumni
• Oregon Ducks football players
• Illinois Fighting Illini football players
• Miami Dolphins players
• San Mateo Bulldogs football players
• Ottawa Redblacks players
• Canadian football defensive backs
• Players of Canadian football from California