Most Impactful Rebels for 2019: No. 11 Sam Williams
OXFORD, Miss. — As we count down the days until the Ole Miss season opener against Memphis in the Liberty Bowl, we are releasing who we think the Top 50 Most Impactful Players will be for the Rebels this season. This series is a way for Ole Miss fans to learn more about players to keep an eye on this fall.
With 11 days before kickoff, coming in at No. 11…
Sam Williams
Sam Williams was a consensus four-star prospect at defensive end, according to Rivals, ESPN, and 247Sports, out of North East Mississippi Community College (NEMCC) when he signed with Ole Miss in the Class of 2019. He chose Ole Miss over Alabama, LSU, Auburn, Florida State, Kentucky, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas A&M and others.
While a sophomore at NEMCC, the 6-foot-3, 251-pound Williams was named first team NJCAA All-American, Region 23 Defensive Player of the Year, and MACJC Defensive Lineman of the Year after racking up 75 tackles, 28.5 tackles for loss, 17.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, and four pass breakups.
Following his stellar sophomore season performance, he was ranked the No. 7 JUCO prospect in the nation and the No. 3 defensive end by 247Sports.
Not only All-American but NATIONAL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR 🇺🇸. Shocking news but I can never limit what God has for me. I’m fully signed to ole miss now. So there’s nothing that can stop me at this point 🔵🔴🦈 pic.twitter.com/QKNp3Z4I7Q
— BIG SAM 💙 (@DegarrickSamuel) December 19, 2018
After an outstanding spring at Ole Miss, Williams was named the starter at outside linebacker. He spoke with The Rebel Walk at Media Day and discussed how that prepared him for this upcoming season. “It gave me knowledge of the plays,” said Williams. “It gave me knowledge of what the SEC is about. Coming from JUCO, it’s way different, so it just prepared me,” Williams noted.
Williams ran a 3-4 base defense while he was at NEMCC, but he was playing at defensive end. His transition to outside linebacker has really helped him utilize all his skill sets as a football player. “It shows how versatile I am,” Williams continued. “I can move. I can run. I can get in the way of the ball. I can read the offense. It just helps show what I am capable of doing,” he explained.
After practice last week, defensive coordinator Coach MacIntyre discussed Williams’ improvement since arriving in the spring. “Sam, in the spring when he got here, he hadn’t played a lot of football,” said MacIntyre.
“He has taken good leaps and bounds. His pass rush is what he was known for. He’s actually gotten better at it, because before it was just run with this big, fast body and out-run them. Good offensive linemen have a lot of really good technique, and he’s started learning how to use his hands and to set up a blocker. Coach (Tyrone) Nix has done a good job with him.”
DC Mike MacIntyre on Sam Williams
Williams enjoys being coached by a coordinator who understands how the 3-4 should be run. “I believe he is good because he knows what he’s talking about,” said Williams.
“He knows the game of football. He’s shown me stuff that I’ve never even seen before even playing Madden all my life. He knows what’s coming before it even comes.”
Sam Williams on DC Mike MacIntyre
During Monday and Tuesday’s practice last week, Williams was in the green, non-contact jersey, but he’s since returned to practicing and has been playing at full strength. Williams has continued to lock down one of the starting roles at outside linebacker during fall camp, and we expect the talented JUCO transfer to have a huge season in 2019 for the Rebels.
Watch out for No. 13 on the field this fall!
Hotty Toddy!
Most Impactful Rebels for 2019
11. Sam Williams
12. Qaadir Sheppard
13. Jacquez Jones
14. Miles Battle
15. Jerrion Ealy
16. Braylon Sanders
17. Eli Johnson
18. Myles Hartsfield
19. Dontario Drummond
20. Jon Haynes
21. Montrell Custis
22. Demarcus Gregory
23. Bryce Mathews
24. Royce Newman
25. Tylan Knight
26. Tariqious Tisdale
27. Octavious Cooley
28. Jalen Julius
29. Luke Logan
30. Nick Broeker
31. Austrian Robinson
32. Quentin Bivens
33. Willie Hibbler
34. Isaiah Woullard
35. Jadon Jackson
36. Grant Tisdale, Kinkead Dent, John Rhys Plumlee
37. Keidron Smith
38. Snoop Conner
39. Michael Howard
40. Vernon Dasher
41. Ryder Anderson
42. D’Vaughn Pennamon
43. C.J. Miller
44. Charles Wiley
45. Sincere David
46. Mac Brown
47. Jason Pellerin
48. Chandler Tuitt
49. Dannis Jackson
50. Jonathan Mingo
Derrell Hart
Derrell has covered Ole Miss athletics in the past for Rebels247 at 247Sports. He attended Delta State University where he graduated with a B.S. in Biology. He is currently pursuing his Pharm.D. at the University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy with an expected graduation of May, 2020.
