Quency Williams Explained

Quency Williams
Number:91, 43
Birth Date:10 April 1961
Birth Place:Douglasville, Georgia, U.S.
Death Date:April 2022 (aged 61)
Death Place:Douglasville, Georgia, U.S.
Position1:Defensive end, linebacker
Height Ft:6
Height In:4
Weight Lb:230
College:Auburn (1980–1983)
High School:Douglas County (GA)
Playing Years1:1984
Playing Team1:Birmingham Stallions
Playing Years2:1984–1985
Playing Team2:Los Angeles Raiders
Playing Years3:1986
Playing Team3:Arizona Outlaws
Playing Years4:1987–1988
Playing Team4:Calgary Stampeders
Playing Years5:1989–1992
Playing Team5:Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Playing Years6:1992
Playing Team6:BC Lions
Career Footnotes:*Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Statlabel1:Tackles
Statvalue1:221
Statlabel2:Sacks
Statvalue2:30
Career Highlights:

Quency Leon Williams (April 10, 1961 – April 2022) was an American gridiron football defensive end who played six seasons in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for the Calgary Stampeders and Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He played college football at Auburn and also had stints with the Birmingham Stallions, Los Angeles Raiders, Arizona Outlaws and BC Lions. He won the 78th Grey Cup with the Blue Bombers.

Early life and education

Williams was born on April 10, 1961, in Douglasville, Georgia, and grew up there.[1] He attended Douglas County High School, graduating in 1980. He committed to Auburn University and saw immediate playing time as a freshman on the football team.[2] He played in every year of his at the school, and as a senior helped Auburn to the second-best run defense in the conference.[3]

His brother Gregg Williams played college football for rival Georgia.[4]

Professional career

Williams was selected in the 1984 USFL Territorial Draft by the Birmingham Stallions, but was one of the team's final roster cuts.[5]

In,[6] Williams was noticed by scouts of the Los Angeles Raiders, who gave him a tryout.[5] His tryout was successful and he was given a contract, but he was soon after placed on injured reserve and did not make the final roster the following year in 1985.[5] [7]

Williams was later contacted by the Arizona Outlaws in the USFL, the Atlanta Falcons in the NFL, and by two teams from the Canadian Football League (CFL).[5] He accepted an offer from Arizona, but the season was canceled before he got a chance to play.[5]

In May, Williams was signed by the Calgary Stampeders of the CFL.[8] His position was changed from defensive end to outside linebacker, but was later changed back.[9] He made the final roster and played in a total of ten games in his first year, as Calgary compiled a record of 10–8.[10] Williams returned to the Stampeders in, playing in all eighteen games and making nine quarterback sacks and 59 tackles.[1] He was named the team's most valuable player by Canadian Airlines International and was awarded a trip to West Germany.[11]

After the 1988 season ended, Williams tried out for the United States Bobsled Team.[12] [13]

In May, Williams was traded to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for future considerations.[14] He changed his position to linebacker near the beginning of the season.[15] He made the final roster and appeared in seventeen games, making 65 tackles and eight sacks.[1] Williams returned to the defensive end position in .[1] That year, he played in fifteen games, making six sacks and 46 tackles as the Blue Bombers went on to win the 78th Grey Cup.[16] In, he played in just seven games, recording two sacks and 15 tackles.[1] In, he played in just one game before being released.[17]

Shortly after being released by Winnipeg, Williams was signed by the BC Lions.[18] He was released by the Lions on September 7, without appearing in a game.[1] [19] He finished his CFL career with 68 games played, 221 tackles, 30.0 sacks and two fumble recoveries.[1]

Later life and death

Williams was later a tow truck operator near Winnipeg.[20] [21] In 2002, he helped save the life of a man who had crashed his van into a Manitoba river.[20]

Williams died of a heart attack in April 2022, shortly after his 61st birthday.[21] [22]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Quency Williams Stats. Pro Football Archives.
  2. News: Brooks' KO return electrified crowd. The Montgomery Advertiser. Newspapers.com. September 21, 1980. 20. Cargile, John.
  3. News: Auburn states case for stingy defense. The Atlanta Constitution. Newspapers.com. August 24, 1984. 49. Davidson, David.
  4. News: He's looked at life from both sides now. Birmingham Post-Herald. Newspapers.com. November 11, 1983. Lumpkin, Bill. B1, B4.
  5. News: Ex-AU gridder has another chance at pros. The Selma Times-Journal. Newspapers.com. May 14, 1986. 10. Southall, Albert.
  6. Web site: Quency Williams NFL Transactions. Pro Football Archives.
  7. News: LA Raiders. The Daily Journal. Newspapers.com. August 21, 1985. 26.
  8. News: Extra Points. Calgary Herald. Newspapers.com. May 8, 1987. 75.
  9. News: Stampeders' linebacker is cramming once again. Calgary Herald. Newspapers.com. July 8, 1987. 39. Blair, Jeff.
  10. Web site: 1987 Calgary Stampeders (CFL). Pro Football Archives.
  11. News: Team scatters as another season ends. Calgary Herald. Newspapers.com. November 8, 1988. 58. Rauw, Murray.
  12. News: Walker, Moses try out for bobsled team. The Times Leader. Newspapers.com. November 19, 1988. 24. Smith, George.
  13. News: Quency is Cinderella of U.S. bobsled team. Calgary Herald. Newspapers.com. November 16, 1988. 1. Dawson, Chris.
  14. News: Stamps are busy wheeling, dealing. Calgary Herald. Newspapers.com. May 25, 1989. 43. Dolik, Helen.
  15. News: CFL Tonight. The Leader-Post. Newspapers.com. July 25, 1989. 30. Willes, Ed.
  16. Web site: 1990 Winnipeg Blue Bombers (CFL). Pro Football Archives.
  17. News: Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Calgary Herald. Newspapers.com. August 21, 1992. 9.
  18. News: Roughriders' Ford opposed to picking up tag for Lions. Star-Phoenix. Newspapers.com. August 26, 1992. 13. Ommanney, Marg.
  19. News: B.C. Lions. The Leader-Post. Newspapers.com. September 8, 1992. 34.
  20. News: Former CFL player helps rescue accident victims. Centre Daily Times. Newspapers.com. May 26, 2022. 15.
  21. Web site: Former Bombers defensive end, 1990 Grey Cup champion Quency Williams passes away at 61. 3DownNation. April 28, 2022.
  22. https://www.articobits.com/obituaries/willie-a-watkins-funeral-home-inc/mr-quency-leon-williams-obituary Mr. Quency Leon Williams