Tuesday, April 7, 2020

Former MSSU All-American Brandon Williams named to Division 2 All-Decade Team

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

Former Missouri Southern All-American Brandon Williams has been named as part of the D2football.com All-Decade Team, the web site announced recently.

Williams played for the Lions from 2008-12 and was selected in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens.

Williams was the highest-ever drafted player from Missouri Southern surpassing the previous high of the fourth-round that Allen Barbre had in 2007 when he was selected by the Green Bay Packers.








Williams was a consensus All-American in 2012, and was named the Division II National Defensive Player of the Year by two different organizations. He was picked as an All-American by five different publications and at the time was just the third Division II player in the history of the sport to be named an All-American in three different seasons. He was a first-team All-MIAA selection and was the MIAA Defensive Player of the Year, while also being named the Daktronics Region Defensive Player of the Year.

Williams is the all-time sacks leader for the Lions and finished with 27 in his career at Missouri Southern. He had at least a half sack in all but three games as a senior and had a tackle for a loss in all but one game. He finished the season second on the team with 68 tackles, 31 solo, including 16.5 for a loss of 58 yards. He had 8.5 sacks for a loss of 39 yards, two pass break ups, eight quarterback hurries, five forced fumbles and one safety on the season and finished third in the MIAA in sacks and tackles for a loss, while ranking second in forced fumbles. Williams went on to participate in the Senior Bowl and also participated in the NFL's Scouting Combine.

Williams has went on to star for the Ravens turning into one of the NFL's top defensive linemen. Since Williams' arrival, the Baltimore run defense has ranked tops in the NFL in rushing yards per game and per carry allowed. He made his first pro start in 2014 and has started in every game he has played since. In 2018, Williams started in every game, en route to recording 34 tackles, and one sack and his first Pro Bowl appearance. In his career with the Ravens, Williams has 245 tackles, 6.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, six pass deflections and recorded a defensive touchdown in the 2017 season.

Williams is one of nine former MIAA players on the team. The complete list is below.

D2Football.com All-Decade Team
First Team

QB Jason Vander Laan Ferris State
RB Franklyn Quiteh Bloomsburg
RB Austin Ekeler Western Colorado
WR Jeff Janis Saginaw Valley
WR Billy Brown Shepherd
TE Adam Shaheen Ashland
OL Ryan Schraeder Valdosta State
OL Garth Heikkinen Minnesota Dulth
OL Ryan Jensen CSU-Pueblo
OL Amini Silatolu Midwestern State
OL Joe Long Wayne State (Mich.)

DL Matt Judon Grand Valley
DL Brandon Williams Missouri Southern
DL Jamie Meder Ashland
DL Matt Lonacre Northwest Missouri
LB Deon Lacey West Alabama
LB Nate Dreiling Pittsburg State
LB Connor Harris Lindenwood
DB Malcolm Butler West Alabama
DB Kyle Dugger Lenoir-Rhyne
DB Rontez Miles Cal U
DB Pierre Desir Lindenwood

K Greg Zuerlein Missouri Western
P Taylor Accardi Colorado School of Mines
AP John Brown Pittsburg State

Second Team

QB Luis Perez Texas A&M-Commerce
RB Cameron McDondle CSU-Pueblo
RB Ja'Quan Gardner Humboldt State
WR Brody Oliver Colorado Mines
WR Shane Zylstra Minnesota State
TE Brian Leonhardt Bemidji State
OL Alex Cappa Humboldt State
OL Eric Kush Cal U
OL Brandon Fusco Slippery Rock
OL Matt Armstrong Grand Valley
OL Trey Pipkens Sioux Falls

DL Marcus Martin Slippery Rock
DL Grover Stewart Albany State
DL Cedric Thornton Southern Arkansas
DL Zach Sieler Ferris State
LB Larry Dean Valdosta State
LB Adam Bighill Central Washington
LB Carlos Fields Winston-Salem
DB Janoris Jenkins North Alabama
DB Jeff Heath Saginaw Valley
DB Tavierre Thomas Ferris State
DB Brandon Dixon Northwest Missouri

K Dante Brown Fort Hays
P Randy Weich Wayne State (Neb.)
AP Deonte Harris Assumption

No comments:

Post a Comment