Ole Miss’ Sam Williams Named Walter Camp All-American

Rebel Defensive Lineman Ranks Fourth Nationally with 12.5 Sacks

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – (Release) For the first time since 2015, an Ole Miss defensive player has earned Walter Camp All-America honors, the Walter Camp Football Foundation announced Thursday.

Senior defensive end Sam Williams was named second team Walter Camp All-America after a stellar 2021 campaign. 
 
This is the 132nd edition of the Walter Camp All-America team, the nation’s oldest college football All-America team, and presented by 777 Partners. Twenty-six players were selected to the first team by the 130 Football Bowl Subdivision head coaches and sports information directors. In addition, 26 players were selected to the second team.
 
Williams has a school record 12.5 sacks on the season, which ranks fourth in the FBS. His 56 total tackles are the most by a Rebel defensive lineman since 2018. Williams leads the Rebels in both tackles for loss (15.0) and forced fumbles (4).
 
The Montgomery, Alabama, native is third in the Ole Miss career record book (modern day) with 22.5 career sacks. He also ranks seventh all-time at Ole Miss in career TFLs with 32.5.
 
Williams has anchored an Ole Miss defense that has held their opponent without a first-half touchdown in three straight games. It was just the second time all season that Mississippi State had been held out of the end zone during the first 30 minutes of play.
 
The Walter Camp All-Americans will be recognized at the Foundation’s annual awards weekend, which will be held Feb. 25-26 in New Haven, Connecticut.  
 
2021 WALTER CAMP ALL-AMERICA TEAM
FIRST TEAM – OFFENSE
QB: Kenny Pickett, Pitt
RB: Breece Hall, Iowa State; Kenneth Walker III, Michigan State
WR: David Bell, Purdue; Jordan Addison, Pitt
TE: Trey McBride, Colorado State
OL: Ikem Ekwonu, NC State; Zion Johnson, Boston College; Darian Kinnard, Kentucky; Evan Neal, Alabama
C: Tyler Linderbaum, Iowa
PK: Jake Moody, Michigan
 
FIRST TEAM – DEFENSE
DL: Jordan David, Georgia; Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan; Jermaine Johnson, Florida State; Kayvon Thibodeaux, Oregon
LB: Will Anderson, Alabama; Nakobe Dean, Georgia; Devin Lloyd, Utah
DB: Coby Bryant, Cincinnati; Kyle Hamilton, Notre Dame; Verone McKinley, Oregon Jalen Pitre, Baylor
P: Matt Araiza, San Diego State                                   
KR: Brian Battie, South Florida                        
 
SECOND TEAM – OFFENSE
QB: Bryce Young, Alabama      
WR: Drake London, USC; Chris Olave, Ohio State; Jameson Williams, Alabama;
TE: Isaiah Likely, Coastal Carolina
OL: Kenyon Green, Texas A&M; Max Mitchell, Louisiana; Nicholas Petit-Frere, Ohio State; Jamaree Salyer, Georgia
C: Zach Frazier, West Virginia  
RB: Tyler Badie, Missouri; Sean Tucker, Syracuse                                
PK: Noah Ruggles, Ohio State
 
SECOND TEAM – DEFENSE
DL: George Karlaftis, Purdue; DeMarvin Leal, Texas A&M; Cameron Thomas, San Diego State;
Sam Williams, Ole Miss                       
LB: Leo Chenal, Wisconsin; Damone Clark, LSU; Chad Muma, Wyoming
DB: Jaylan Foster, South Carolina; Ahmad Gardner, Cincinnati; Matt Hankins, Iowa; Steven Jones, Jr., Appalachian State
P: Adam Korsak, Rutgers                                 
KR: Marcus Jones, Houston

(Feature image: Josh McCoy, Ole Miss)

Evelyn Van Pelt

Evelyn has covered sports for over two decades, beginning her journalism career as a sports writer for a newspaper in Austin, Texas. She attended Texas A&M and majored in English. Evelyn’s love for Ole Miss began when her daughter Katie attended the university on a volleyball scholarship. Evelyn created the Rebel Walk in 2013 and has served as publisher and managing editor since its inception.