Travis Williams

SS, FS · Illinois
Williams might not be the biggest middle linebacker in the collegiate ranks, but he is one of the better in-motion tacklers in the South. The cousin of NFL running back Duce Staley is a classic case of big things coming in small packages. The three-year starter is a well-respected performer who was awarded the Pat Dye Leadership Award for the defense from the coaching staff in 2005. Williams holds the Spring Valley High School records for most tackles in a season (160) and most solo tackles in one game (17) during his senior campaign. He also had five sacks and caused four fumbles that year. As a junior, he registered 137 tackles (single-season school record 110 solos), 19 stops for losses and two sacks. He holds the school career-record with 297 tackles. Williams was named the Most Valuable Player of the South Carolina North-South All-Star Game in 2000. He was a first-team All-State, two-time All-Region and Area Defensive Most Valuable Player, in addition to being a member of the All-Power Bar Team for the South. He was rated one of the top 20 players in South Carolina according to Super Prep. Williams also lettered three years in basketball and four years in track. Williams redshirted in 2001 and saw brief action in thirteen games at Auburn in 2002. He posted ten tackles (4 solos) with a sack and an interception as a reserve inside linebacker. He took over middle linebacker chores in 2003, going on to start his next 36 games. Williams finished third on the team with 67 tackles (24 solos) as a sophomore. He had 8.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage, four quarterback pressures, three pass deflections and a forced fumble. He earned first-team All-Southeastern Conference honors as a junior, leading the team with a career-high 80 tackles (50 solos). Williams added two sacks, nine stops for losses and five pressures. He caused a fumble, knocked down two passes and picked off two others. An early season turf toe injury kept Williams from playing vs. Ball State in 2005, but he still finished second on the team with 68 tackles (37 solos). The second-team All-SEC pick also had 2.5 sacks, 5.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage and two fumble recoveries. Williams appears in 49 games at Auburn and finished his career with 36 consecutive starts. He finished with 225 tackles (112 solos), 5.5 sacks for minus-18 yards, 24.5 stops for losses of 54 yards and ten quarterback pressures. He caused five fumbles, deflected six passes and intercepted four others for 29 yards in returns.