James Williams (cornerback)

James Williams
refer to caption
Williams in 2024
Fresno State Bulldogs
Position:Cornerbacks coach
Personal information
Born: (1967-03-30) March 30, 1967 (age 57)
Osceola, Arkansas, U.S.
Height:5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight:185 lb (84 kg)
Career information
High school:Coalinga (Coalinga, California)
College:Fresno State
NFL draft:1990 / round: 1 / pick: 16
Career history
As a player:
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
As a coach:
  • Fresno State (1997)
    Graduate assistant
  • Cal Poly (1998)
    Defensive backs
  • San Jose State (1999)
    Defensive backs
  • Fresno State (2000–2001)
    Defensive backs
  • California (2002–2005)
    Defensive backs
  • Washington (2006–2008)
    Defensive backs
  • Utah (2009)
    Defensive backs
  • UNLV (2010–2011)
    Assistant head coach/defensive backs
  • UNLV (2012)
    Assistant head coach/defensive coordinator
  • Georgia State (2013–2014)
    Special teams coordinator/defensive backs
  • UNLV (2015–2016)
    Defensive backs
  • Fresno State (2017–2019)
    Defensive backs
  • Fresno State (2020–present)
    Cornerbacks
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Interceptions:11
Forced fumbles:1
Fumble recoveries:4
Tackles:134
Stats at Pro Football Reference

James Earl "J.D." Williams (born March 30, 1967) is an American football coach and former cornerback who is the cornerbacks coach for the Fresno State Bulldogs. He played college football at Fresno State and was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the first round of the 1990 NFL draft.[2] Williams played in six NFL seasons, from 1990 to 1994 and 1996 for the Bills, Arizona Cardinals, and San Francisco 49ers.[3]

Williams was most notable for being the first player on the Buffalo Bills squad to don number 31, which had been "retired" to represent the spirit of the franchise. Since Williams wore the number, the Bills have allowed anyone to wear the 31 jersey; it was later worn by Dwayne Wright, who like Williams, went to Fresno State. Jairus Byrd wore the number before becoming a free agent; he used it because his college number, 32, was unofficially retired because of O. J. Simpson.

After retiring from football, Williams became a football coach beginning in 1997 as a graduate assistant at Fresno State.[4]

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
5 ft 9+7⁄8 in
(1.77 m) 		172 lb
(78 kg) 		29+3⁄4 in
(0.76 m) 		8+1⁄4 in
(0.21 m)		 4.34 s 1.55 s 2.54 s 4.03 s 38.0 in
(0.97 m)		 10 ft 9 in
(3.28 m)		 9 reps

References

  1. ^ 49ers, 1996 Media Guide (PDF). p. 138.
  2. ^ "1990 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  3. ^ "James Williams Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  4. ^ "J.D. Williams". Fresno State. January 15, 2020. Retrieved November 18, 2020.


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