Jimmy Williams Season 1981

Honors & Awards

• Drafted in 1st Round by the Detroit Lions (15th Overall)
• 1981 First-Team All-American (Walter Camp, Kodak, NEA)
• 1981 Second-Team All-American (AP, UPI, Football News)
• 1981 Big 8 Defensive Player-of-the-Year (UPI)
• 1981 First-Team All-Big 8 (AP, UPI)
• 1981 Three-Time Nebraska Defensive Player-of-the-Week (Auburn, Kansas, Oklahoma)
• 1980 Sun Bowl Outstanding Lineman
• 1980 Second-Team All-Big 8 (UPI, AP)
• 1980 Big 8 Defensive Player-of-the-Week (Oklahoma State)
• 1980 Two-Time Nebraska Defensive Player-of-the-Week (Oklahoma State, Kansas State)

Senior (1981)
Became the 15th Nebraska player selected in the first round of the NFL draft when the Detroit Lions made him their first choice and the 15th player selected overall in the 1982 draft. Earned All-American honors from Walter Camp and AP and was named by UPI as the defensive player-of-the-year in the Big 8 Conference. Combined strength (300-pound bench press) with the fastest 40 time ever recorded at NU (4.34). When Williams arrived at NU as a walk-on in 1978, he weighted 185 pounds and ran a 4.8 40.

Williams ended the 1981 season with 61 total tackles, 41 unassisted, eight tackles behind the line for a total of 17 yards lost, one fumble recovery and two passes broken up. Williams also racked up a team high 10 sacks for 52 yards lost.  Early in the season against Auburn, Williams and rest of the Blackshirts held Auburn to only one first quarter field goal and forced ten fumbles in a 17-3 win in Lincoln. Best game of the year came in a 54-7 beating of OklahomaState in Stillwater where Williams intercepted two passes and helped the defense hold the Cowboys to only 41 yards rushing on 37 attempts (1.12 yards per carry).

Junior (1980)
Had 66 tackles, including 48 unassisted, and 18 stops behind the line for a loss of 112 yards. Williams also had two fumble recoveries and one pass broken up. For those efforts, he earned AP and UPI Second-Team All-Big 8 honors. Against Oklahoma State in 1980, the Huskers 48-7 win over the Cowboys in Lincoln, Williams had 9 tackles, including six unassisted and four stops behind the line for a loss of 21 yards. For those stats, he was named the Big 8 Defensive Player-of-the-Week. Williams gained national prominence for his pay in the Husker 31-17 win over Mississippi State in the 1980 Sun Bowl, televised by CBS. In that game, he had six tackles, including five unassisted, two stops behind the line for a loss of 25 yards and two fumble recoveries. He was named the Sun Bowl’s Most Valuable Lineman.

Sophomore (1979)
Williams gained valuable experience playing behind All-American Derrie Nelson.

Freshman (1978)
Starter with the 1978 NU freshman team at defensive end.

Before Nebraska (Woodrow Wilson High School)
As a linebacker in 1977 under Coach Bernard Hogans, Williams was the defense’s Most Valuable Player and also lettered in prep track.

Personal
Son of James and Flora Williams, born on Nov. 15, 1960. Comes from a large family, six brothers and two sisters, one brother, Toby, also played at Nebraska. Physical Education major in the Teachers College.

Year	UT	AT	TT	TFL	R	BK	PBU	PI
1979	8	5	13	1-17	1	0	2	0
1980	48	18	66	18-112	2	0	1	0
1981	41	20	61	18-69	1	0	0	2
Totals	97	43	140	37-198	4	0	3	2