Marcus Williams is a professional American football player who plays as a free safety for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League and spots the number 43 jersey at the franchise. Even though Williams is barely three years old in the League, the promising star is already stealing the show, showing the prolific talent that is innate in him.
He had a solid debut season with the Saints and as such, is definitely one of the rising stars to watch out for in the NFL. Even his ensuing months as a professional were also impressive and more is expected from this skilled American football safety.
Marcus Williams Grew Up Playing Basketball
Born on the 8th of September 1996 in Pomona, California, Marcus Alan Williams, as his given name says, grew up experimenting with the game of basketball but fell in love with football after attending one of his brother’s games when he was just 7. Consequently, when he eventually went for his high school education at Eleanor Roosevelt High School, Eastvale, California, the Californian native was a multi-sport athlete lettering in football, basketball, and track. He played both defensive and offensive positions while in high school.
In his senior year, Marcus Williams recorded 60 tackles, 6 interceptions (returned for 175 yards), one pass breakup, and a forced fumble as a defensive back and 41 receptions for 924 yards, including 9 touchdowns as a wide receiver. On the academic side, he was an outstanding student. Due to his combined athletic and academic prowess, Marcus Williams was courted by several colleges, including the University of Washington and the University of California but he eventually picked the University of Utah.
His Stats At The University Were Quite Good
With his outstanding records in high school, Marcus Williams was expected to do even better at college basketball and we wouldn’t be wrong to say that the emerging star did not disappoint. At Utah, Williams continued his fine form; his freshman year saw him playing in all 13 games, making six starts and concluding the season with 59 tackles and a single interception. He made 13 starts in his sophomore year and recorded 65 tackles and five interceptions, as well as earned the title of First-team All-Pac-12.
As a junior in 2016, Marcus Williams had 64 tackles and five interceptions. In three seasons at Utah (2014 to 2016), and featuring in 37 games for the team, he finished with 11 interceptions, 188 total tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 19 passes defended, 4 forced fumbles, and 3 fumble recoveries. As a senior, Williams was named a Second-team Pro Football Focus All-American and a Second-team All-Pac-12. Considering his excellent performance, several mock drafts and sportswriters predicted him to be among the first-round or second-round selection of the NFL.
Marcus Williams Became A Professional In 2017
Marcus Williams entered the 2017 NFL Draft and was picked in the 2nd round by the New Orleans Saints. He was the 42nd overall pick that year and on the 3rd of June 2017, the Saints locked him down on a four-year contract worth $6,240,000; this included a signing bonus of $2.67 million and $3.42 million guaranteed.
Despite being a rookie, the Saints gave Williams the job of the starting safety and he did not disappoint. He started all games in his rookie season and finished with a total of 73 combined tackles (59 solos), four interceptions, seven pass deflections, and six passes defended in 15 games and 15 starts, helping the Saints qualify for the divisional playoffs.
Though a groin injury put him out of play for a few weeks, he soon bounced back to lead all rookie safeties in interceptions and also came in second amongst all rookie safeties in terms of total tackles and passes defended.
His Debut Campaign Was Dented By the Minneapolis Miracle
Marcus Williams’ outstanding debut campaign was marred by an event now known as the Minneapolis Miracle. The New Orleans Saints faced the Minnesota Vikings in an NFC divisional playoff game on the 14th of January 2018.
Williams made some impressive contributions as the Saints led the Vikings by one point. However, with only 25 seconds left in the game, he missed a crucial tackle on Vikings wide receiver, Stefon Diggs and Diggs was able to make a 61-yard touchdown catch which eliminated the Saints from advancing to the NFC championship game.
Unsurprisingly, Williams’ costly mistake went viral and he became the subject of several hurtful memes on social media. However, rather than being deterred, Marcus Williams is determined to turn his nightmare into a motivation.
He Made Amends in the 2018/19 Seasons
Marcus Williams’ costly mistake in the previous season notwithstanding, head coach Sean Payton still retained him as the team’s starting free safety in 2018, and during a 21–18 victory against the team of the Cleveland Browns on the 16th of September 2018, Marcus recorded four solo tackles, made an interception and deflated a pass.
His 2019 season was even better, the New Orleans Saints team recorded victories over the Houston Texans in a 30–28 win, they defeated the Dallas Cowboys by a 12–10 win, won the Chicago Bears by a score of 36–25, and walloped the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a 34–17 win.
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Marcus Williams Hails From A Close-Knit Family
You wouldn’t be far from the truth by guessing that Marcus Williams’ tenacity and competitive spirit in the field of play has something to do with his background. The Stellar player comes from a tight-knit family of six consisting of dad (Sylvester), mom (Franschell), and three older brothers – Brian, Eric, and Jonathan who has showed-off on Instagram.
Williams credits his family for instilling and nurturing in him a competitive spirit. According to the professional football player, whatever game they played as a family, be it bowling, running, cards, or basketball, they always competed for who would emerge the winner which strengthened the competitive spirit in him
The Williams are Jehovah’s Witnesses by religious inclination and as such, the 6 feet 1-inch player doesn’t indulge in many of the things that other young people would normally be caught doing such as smoking, drinking or cussing. He apparently had a strict Christian upbringing and has not departed from it.
