Preston Williams Explained

Preston Williams
Current Team:Montreal Alouettes
Number:76
Position:Wide receiver
Birth Date:March 27, 1997
Birth Place:Lovejoy, Georgia, U.S.
Height Ft:6
Height In:4
Weight Lb:210
High School:Lovejoy (GA)
College:Tennessee (2015–2016)
Colorado State (2017–2018)
Undraftedyear:2019
Pastteams:
Status:Active
Highlights:
  • First-team All-MWC (2018)
Statlabel1:Receptions
Statvalue1:56
Statlabel2:Receiving yards
Statvalue2:787
Statlabel3:Receiving touchdowns
Statvalue3:7
Statlabel4:Return yards
Statvalue4:115
Statlabel5:Return touchdowns
Pfr:WillPr01
Cflstatus:American

Preston Terrance Williams (born March 27, 1997) is an American football wide receiver for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at Colorado State. He has played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Miami Dolphins and Carolina Panthers.

Early years

Williams attended Lovejoy High School in Lovejoy, Georgia.[1] At Lovejoy, Williams was the 2013 Georgia High School Association champion in the long jump.[2] He committed to the University of Tennessee to play college football and track and field.[3]

College career

Williams played at Tennessee for two seasons from 2015 to 2016.[4] He recorded 16 receptions for 247 yards and two touchdowns over that time.[5] He transferred to Colorado State University in 2017.[6] [7] After sitting out the 2017 season due to NCAA transfer rules, Williams had 96 receptions for 1,345 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2018.[8] He led the Mountain West Conference in receptions and receiving yards and finished second in receiving touchdowns.[9] After the 2018 season, he entered the 2019 NFL draft, forgoing his senior season.[10]

Professional career

Miami Dolphins

Williams signed with the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent on May 9, 2019.[11] He made the final 53-man roster. He made his NFL debut in the Dolphins' 2019 season opener against the Baltimore Ravens. In the 59–10 loss, he had three receptions for 24 yards and his first professional touchdown.[12] In Week 9, Williams had five catches for 72 yards and two touchdowns in the 26–18 win over the New York Jets. However in the game, Williams left the game with a knee injury, and was diagnosed with a torn ACL, ending his rookie season.[13] [14] He finished the season with 32 catches for 428 yards and three touchdowns as the team's leading receiver at the time of his injury.[15]

In Week 5 against the San Francisco 49ers, Williams recorded four catches for 108 yards and a 32-yard touchdown reception during the 43–17 win.[16] On November 11, 2020, Williams was placed on injured reserve with a foot injury.[17] In the 2020 season, Williams appeared in eight games and recorded 18 receptions for 288 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns.[18]

In the 2021 season, Williams had six receptions for 71 yards in eight games and three starts.[19]

On March 15, 2022, Williams signed a one-year contract extension with the Dolphins.[20] He was waived on August 30, 2022.[21]

Carolina Panthers

On September 5, 2022, Williams signed with the practice squad of the Carolina Panthers.[22] He was signed to the active roster on January 7, 2023.[23] He appeared in the team's Week 18 game against the New Orleans Saints, but only saw two offensive snaps and was not targeted. On May 18, Williams was released by Carolina.[24]

DC Defenders

On December 14, 2023, Williams was signed by the DC Defenders of the United Football League (UFL).[25] [26] He was waived on March 5, 2024.[27]

Montreal Alouettes

On May 3, 2023, Williams was signed by the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League (CFL).[28]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Preston Williams, Lovejoy, Wide Receiver . December 1, 2019 . 247Sports . en-US.
  2. Web site: Preston Williams - Football . Colorado State Athletics . 4 July 2024 . en.
  3. Web site: Brown . Patrick . September 1, 2015 . 'Freakish ability' helps Preston Williams make quick return . September 25, 2019 . Times Free Press.
  4. Web site: Preston Williams College Stats . May 29, 2020 . College Football at Sports-Reference.com . en.
  5. Web site: Brown . Patrick . October 13, 2016 . Preston Williams to leave Tennessee's football program . September 25, 2019 . Times Free Press.
  6. Web site: Brohard . Mike . April 15, 2017 . Preston Williams already making a difference for Colorado State football . September 25, 2019 . The Denver Post . en-US.
  7. Web site: Lyell . Kelly . April 11, 2018 . Is Tennessee transfer Preston Williams the next Michael Gallup? . September 25, 2019 . Coloradoan . en.
  8. Web site: Brohard . Mike . December 6, 2018 . CSU football's Preston Williams exploring NFL options . September 25, 2019 . Loveland Reporter-Herald . en-US.
  9. Web site: 2018 Mountain West Conference Leaders . May 29, 2020 . College Football at Sports-Reference.com . en.
  10. Web site: Lyell . Kelly . December 7, 2018 . CSU's Preston Williams will skip senior season to enter NFL draft . September 25, 2019 . Coloradoan . en.
  11. Web site: May 9, 2019 . Dolphins Sign 18 Undrafted College Free Agents . September 25, 2019 . MiamiDolphins.com . May 9, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190509235202/https://www.miamidolphins.com/news/dolphins-sign-18-undrafted-college-free-agents . dead .
  12. Web site: Baltimore Ravens at Miami Dolphins – September 8th, 2019 . September 25, 2019 . Pro-Football-Reference.com . en.
  13. Web site: Wolfe . Cameron . November 4, 2019 . Dolphins lose top WR Preston Williams for rest of season . November 30, 2019 . ESPN.com.
  14. Web site: November 5, 2019 . Dolphins Sign Marcus Sherels, De'Lance Turner . November 30, 2019 . MiamiDolphins.com.
  15. Web site: Preston Williams 2019 Game Log . May 29, 2020 . Pro-Football-Reference.com . en.
  16. Web site: Miami Dolphins at San Francisco 49ers – October 11th, 2020 . October 11, 2020 . Pro-Football-Reference.com . en.
  17. Web site: Wolfe . Cameron . November 11, 2020 . Miami Dolphins WR Preston Williams heads to injured reserve with foot injury . January 29, 2023 . ESPN.com.
  18. Web site: Preston Williams 2020 Game Log . July 2, 2023 . Pro-Football-Reference.com . en.
  19. Web site: Preston Williams 2021 Game Log . July 2, 2023 . Pro-Football-Reference.com . en.
  20. Web site: March 15, 2022 . Roster Moves: Dolphins re-sign WR Williams . January 29, 2023 . MiamiDolphins.com.
  21. Web site: August 30, 2022 . Dolphins make roster moves . January 29, 2023 . MiamiDolphins.com.
  22. Web site: Gantt . Darin . September 5, 2022 . Panthers sign veteran defensive end Henry Anderson . January 29, 2023 . Panthers.com.
  23. Web site: Gantt . Darin . January 7, 2023 . Panthers make roster moves before season finale . January 29, 2023 . Panthers.com . en-US.
  24. Web site: May 18, 2023 . Preston Williams: Let go by Carolina . May 18, 2023 . CBSSports.com . en.
  25. Web site: Mendel . Jacob . January 22, 2024 . Former Miami Dolphins wide receiver to play for the DC Defenders . February 10, 2024 . The Phinsider . en.
  26. Web site: Lay . Ken . January 11, 2024 . Preston Williams to play for DC in 2024 . February 10, 2024 . Vols Wire. USA Today . en-US.
  27. News: UFL Player Transactions, Tuesday March 5, 2024 . UFLBoard.com . March 5, 2024 . March 6, 2024.
  28. Web site: Transactions - Football Player Trades and Signings . 2024-05-04 . CFL.ca . en.