Kevin Williams (wide receiver)

Kevin Williams
No. 85, 82
Position: Wide receiver
Personal information
Born: (1971-01-25) January 25, 1971
Dallas, Texas
Height: 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Weight: 195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High school: Franklin D. Roosevelt (TX)
College: Miami (FL)
NFL Draft: 1993 / Round: 2 / Pick: 46
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Receptions: 178
Receiving yards: 2,314
Receiving TDs: 7
Player stats at NFL.com
Player stats at PFR

Kevin Ray Williams (born January 25, 1971) is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys, Arizona Cardinals, Buffalo Bills and the San Francisco 49ers. He played college football at the University of Miami.

Early years

Williams attended Roosevelt High School and played college football at the University of Miami, where he was the fastest player in some of college football most talented teams.[1]

In 1991, he was the Big East special teams player of the year and received first-team All-American and All-Big East honors, after setting the conference record with 3 punts returned for touchdowns. In 1992 injuries made him slip to second-team All-Big East.

Williams was a part of the Hurricane's 1991 National Championship team. He left as a junior to enter the NFL Draft.

Professional career

Dallas Cowboys

In the 1993 NFL draft, the Dallas Cowboys traded their first-round draft choice (#29-George Teague) and fourth-round pick (#112-Al Fontenot) to the Green Bay Packers in exchange for two second-round picks (#46 and #54-Darrin Smith) and a fourth-round draft choice (#94-Derrick Lassic). The Cowboys selected Williams with their first choice in the second round.

His best moment as a rookie came in the infamous Leon Lett Thanksgiving game against the Miami Dolphins, where he scored all of the team's points (except the conversions) on a 4-yard reception and a 64-yard punt return.[2]

After the departure of Alvin Harper in 1995, he received the opportunity as the starting wide receiver opposite to Michael Irvin, but never became the consistent big play compliment that was expected from him. That season against the Arizona Cardinals, he had the sixth best single game receiving total in franchise history at that time, with 203 yards, and added two touchdown receptions of 25 and 48 yards.[3]

In 1996, a foot injury suffered in a 10-7 loss against the Buffalo Bills, limited him to only 10 games. The next year, he decided to leave the team via free agency, after Anthony Miller was signed to take over the second receiver role.

Williams speed and return abilities were always valued during his time with the Cowboys, setting the franchise career records for number of kickoff returns (144), number of combined returns (239) and kickoff return yards (3,4616) in just four seasons.

He was the first player in team history to score off a kickoff and punt return in the same season. Also the first player to score touchdowns on punt returns (3), kickoff (1), receiving (5) and rushing (2).[4]

Arizona Cardinals

In 1997, he signed a one-year contract as a free agent with the Arizona Cardinals, where he played special teams and was a backup wide receiver. His 59 kickoff returns for 1,458 yards set a team single season record and he also set a team record against the Atlanta Falcons with 207 kickoff return yards in a game.[5] His biggest offensive contribution came in week 15 versus the New Orleans Saints where he racked up 54 receiving yards on four catches.

Buffalo Bills

On February 14, 1998, he signed as a free agent with the Buffalo Bills, where he played for 2 seasons before being released.

San Francisco 49ers

Williams ended his 8-year career with the San Francisco 49ers in 2000. He finished with 178 receptions for 2,314 yards and 7 touchdowns, 167 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns, 7,309 kickoff return yards with 1 touchdown and 2,295 yards and 3 touchdowns on punt returns. He gained a total of 12,085 all purpose yards.

NFL statistics

Receiving Stats[6]

YearTeamGamesReceptionsYardsYards per ReceptionLongest ReceptionTouchdownsFirst DownsFumblesFumbles Lost
1993DAL16201517.6332600
1994DAL151318113.9290700
1995DAL163861316.14823200
1996DAL102732312.03112000
1997ARI162027313.73111500
1998BUF162939213.55511811
1999BUF163138112.33502000
Career1211782,31413.055711811

Returning Stats[6]

YearTeamGamesPunt Return AttemptsPunt Return YardsPunts Returned for TouchdownPunts Fair CaughtLongest Punt ReturnKickoff Return AttemptsKickoff Return YardsKickoffs Returned for TouchdownKickoffs Fair CaughtLongest Kickoff Return
1993DAL163638121464316890049
1994DAL153934911383431,1481087
1995DAL161816601530491,1080043
1996DAL10217009214710039
1997ARI164046201550591,4580063
1998BUF163736901173471,0590046
1999BUF163333101727428400062
2000SF162622001325305360033
Career1212312,295398833227,3091087

References

  1. ↑ "Williams Big Play Man For Hurricanes". Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  2. ↑ "Lett's blunder lifts Miami to win over Cowboys". Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  3. ↑ "Cowboys secure home-field advantage". Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  4. ↑ "Ex-Cowboy brightens Cardinals' special teams". Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  5. ↑ "Cardinals in market for speedy wide receiver". Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  6. 1 2 "Kevin R. Williams Stats". ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
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