Antonio Williams (running back)
Personal information | |||||||||||||
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Born: | New London, North Carolina, U.S. | October 22, 1997||||||||||||
Height: | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||||||||||||
Weight: | 215 lb (98 kg) | ||||||||||||
Career information | |||||||||||||
High school: | North Stanly (New London, North Carolina) | ||||||||||||
College: |
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Position: | Running back | ||||||||||||
Undrafted: | 2020 | ||||||||||||
Career history | |||||||||||||
Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||
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Antonio Williams (born October 22, 1997) is an American professional football running back who is a free agent. He played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes and North Carolina.
College career
[edit]Williams began his collegiate career at Ohio State. He spent two seasons with the Buckeyes and rushed for 290 yards and three touchdowns as a sophomore while serving as the team's third running back behind J. K. Dobbins and Mike Weber.[1] Williams announced that he would be transferring to North Carolina in the spring of his sophomore year.[2]
Following his transfer, Williams was granted a hardship waiver from the NCAA and was not required to sit out his junior season.[3] He started seven games in his first season with the Tar Heels and finished as the team's second-leading rusher with 504 yards and five touchdowns.[4] As a senior, Williams split carries with Michael Carter and Javonte Williams and rushed for 322 yards and three touchdowns on 48 carries.[5]
Professional career
[edit]Height | Weight | |||||||||||
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5 ft 9+3⁄4 in (1.77 m) |
215 lb (98 kg) | |||||||||||
Values from Pro Day[6] |
Buffalo Bills
[edit]Williams was signed by the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent on May 8, 2020.[7] He was waived by the Bills on August 5, but re-signed on August 30, 2020.[8] Williams was waived during final roster cuts and was signed to the team's practice squad on September 6 before again being released. Williams was again re-signed to the practice squad on September 23, 2020, and released on October 3 only to return to the unit on October 8.[9][10] He was elevated to the active roster on January 2, 2021, for the team's Week 17 game against the Miami Dolphins, and reverted to the practice squad after the game.[11] He made his NFL debut in the game, rushing for a team-high 63 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries while catching a pass for 20 yards in a 56–26 win.[12] He was elevated again on January 15 for the team's divisional playoff game against the Baltimore Ravens, and reverted to the practice squad again following the game.[13] He signed a reserve/futures contract with the Bills on January 26, 2021.[14]
On August 31, 2021, Williams was waived by the Bills and re-signed to the practice squad the next day.[15][16]
New York Giants
[edit]On January 27, 2022, Williams signed a futures contract with the New York Giants.[17]
On September 27, 2022, Williams was waived by the Giants.[18] On September 29, he was re-signed to the practice squad.[19] He was released on October 5.[20]
On November 8, 2022, the New Orleans Saints hosted Williams for a workout, although no deal was reached.[21]
BC Lions
[edit]On February 13, 2023, Williams signed with the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League (CFL).[22] He was released by the Lions on June 27, 2023.[23]
Personal life
[edit]A NASCAR fan since his youth, Williams is an advisor to NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Joe Graf Jr.; the two befriended each other through a mutual acquaintance, and Williams joined Graf's SS-Green Light Racing team prior to the 2021 racing season.[24]
References
[edit]- ^ Jablonski, David (April 10, 2018). "Antonio Williams waits patiently for his chance with Buckeyes". Dayton Daily News. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
- ^ "UNC adding Ohio State RB Antonio Williams as transfer". ESPN.com. Associated Press. April 24, 2018. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
- ^ Trendel, Avery (July 27, 2018). "UNC RB Antonio Williams Cleared to Play in 2018, Will Not Have to Sit Out After Transferring From Ohio State". Chapelboro.com. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
- ^ Alexander, Jonathan M. (November 29, 2019). "Why Mack Brown thinks running back Antonio Williams is the MVP of this UNC team". The News & Observer. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
- ^ Murphy, Sean (July 17, 2020). "91 players in 91 days: Running back Antonio Williams". BuffaloRumblings.com. SB Nation. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
- ^ "2020 Draft Scout Antonio Williams, North Carolina NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
- ^ Wojton, Nick (May 8, 2020). "Bills sign 8 undrafted rookie free agents". Bills Wire. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
- ^ Talbot, Ryan (August 30, 2020). "Antonio Williams: Buffalo Bills to re-sign UDFA running back". The Post-Standard. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
- ^ "Bills bring back tight end Nate Becker and RB Antonio Williams to practice squad". BuffaloBills.com. September 23, 2020. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
- ^ Bouda, Nate (October 8, 2020). "Bills Re-Sign RB Antonio Williams To Practice Squad". NFLTradeRumors.co. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
- ^ "Tyler Kroft placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list + four players elevated for Bills vs. Dolphins". BuffaloBills.com. January 2, 2021. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
- ^ Talbot, Ryan (January 3, 2021). "Who is Antonio Williams? Bills UDFA RB scores twice in Buffalo's Week 17 win". The Post-Standard. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
- ^ Alper, Josh (January 15, 2021). "Bills promote Antonio Williams, Dane Jackson". ProFootballTalk. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
- ^ "Bills signed these 13 players to reserve/future contracts". BuffaloBills.com. January 26, 2021. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
- ^ "Bills release 23 players to set the initial 2021 53-man roster". BuffaloBills.com. August 31, 2021.
- ^ "Bills sign 15 players to the 2021 practice squad". BuffaloBills.com. September 1, 2021.
- ^ "Giants roster move: Former Bills running back Antonio Williams signs futures contract". Big Blue View. SB Nation. January 27, 2022.
- ^ Alper, Josh (September 27, 2022). "Giants waive Antonio Williams". Pro Football Talk. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
- ^ Ulrich, Logan (September 29, 2022). "Giants Re-Sign RB Antonio Williams To PS, Cut OT Roy Mbaeteka". NFL Trade Rumors. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
- ^ Salomone, Dan (October 5, 2022). "Giants sign OL Solomon Kindley to practice squad; RB Antonio Williams released". Giants.com.
- ^ "Former Damascus and Maryland Standout Jake Funk Released by the Saints". mocoshow.com. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
- ^ "Transactions – Football player trades and signings". Canadian Football League. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
- ^ "Lions add American RB Shaun Shivers, release RB Antonio Williams". CFL.ca. June 27, 2023. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
- ^ Utter, Jim (February 10, 2021). "NFL's Antonio Williams to invest in NASCAR driver Joe Graf Jr". Motorsport Network. Motorsport Network. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
External links
[edit]- 1997 births
- Living people
- 21st-century American sportsmen
- 21st-century African-American sportsmen
- American football running backs
- Players of American football from North Carolina
- North Carolina Tar Heels football players
- Buffalo Bills players
- Ohio State Buckeyes football players
- New York Giants players
- People from Stanly County, North Carolina