Ole Miss’ Sam Williams named to Senior Bowl Roster, Joins Teammates Dontario Drummond and Braylon Sanders
OXFORD, Miss. — And then there were three! The Reese’s Senior Bowl announced Tuesday evening that Ole Miss defensive lineman Sam Williams will be joining Rebel teammates and wide receivers Dontario Drummond and Braylon Sanders in this weekend’s game.
SENIOR BOWL ROSTER UPDATE: Ole Miss EDGE Sam Williams has been added to the American roster and will be coached by the #Lions. Williams will be in jersey #7 for tomorrow’s practice.#TheDraftStartsInMOBILE™️#BestoftheBest pic.twitter.com/Ep16UCYzFS
— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) February 2, 2022
The Senior Bowl is considered the most prominent college football all-star game in the United States and is the first stage in the NFL Draft process. Throughout its history, the Senior Bowl has produced over 55 players that went on to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The game is unique among college all-star games as the teams are coached by NFL staff.
Practices began Tuesday in Mobile, Ala. for the 100-plus prospects for the 2022 NFL Draft.
Williams and Drummond will play for the American team, while Sanders will suit up for the National team. The three Rebels will play their final collegiate game after their Ole Miss team finished 10-3 on the season.
In 2021, Drummond led Ole Miss with 76 receptions for 1,028 yards — his first 1,000-yard season — and scored eight touchdowns.
Dontario Drummond
Had a really nice Senior season
Absolute hoss – he is gonna block his tail off all day.
I want dude's like this on my team.
Excited to see him at the @seniorbowl this year. pic.twitter.com/X6mzdlRMXA
— Jake Morley (@JacobMorley) January 5, 2022
Here’s a clip of Drummond from the first day of Senior Bowl practice.
Dontario Drummond from Howell pic.twitter.com/6nW9cbKXBV
— JWack (@JaredWackerlyFF) February 1, 2022
Sanders, who earned a spot in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, recorded 24 catches for 549 yards and four touchdowns this past season for the Rebels. He’s garnering attention already at Senior Bowl practices.
@OleMissFB WR Braylon Sanders has the Mario Star today…dude has been uncoverable #NFLPABowl
— Emory Hunt (@FBallGameplan) January 26, 2022
One of my favorite plays of the day. Kenny Pickett (@kennypickett10) to Braylon Sanders (@b_sanders) pic.twitter.com/JY7olbpS1y
— Scott Kennedy (@ScoutKennedy) February 2, 2022
Williams, who tallied 57 tackles in 2021 — 31 of which were solo — broke the Ole Miss single-season sack record, recording 12.5 on the season. Last weekend, Williams also competed in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl and was named his team’s captain for the contest.
Sam Williams now will be in Mobile pic.twitter.com/hxwBcxfjLM
— Toxic Honx (@JinxTheTerrible) February 2, 2022
Sam Williams (Edge 7 (closest to you))
There will be a lot of discussion about him this draft season
He’s good at football pic.twitter.com/zs6tGj4tYW
— Super Bowl Jared (@StrangeJaredC) January 28, 2022
Senior Bowl Info
DATE: Saturday, February 5, 2022
TIME: 1:30pm CT
WHERE: Mobile, Alabama
STADIUM: University of South Alabama, Hancock Whitney Stadium
TELEVISION: NFL Network
(Feature image photos: Josh McCoy, Ole Miss; Graphic, Nick Filipich, Rebel Walk)
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.