Freddie Williams (Canadian football)
Personal information | |
---|---|
Born: | St. Petersburg, Florida, U.S. | September 2, 1955
Died: | May 14, 2014 Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. | (aged 58)
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 | |
|
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.
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 (May 20, 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.
- 1955 births
- 2014 deaths
- Players of American football from St. Petersburg, Florida
- Players of Canadian football from St. Petersburg, Florida
- American football running backs
- Canadian football running backs
- Arizona State Sun Devils football players
- Saskatchewan Roughriders players
- Dixie Hollins High School alumni