Tiger Legend

One of the greatest Tiger football players in history is officially taking his rightful place among the greatest college football players ever.

DeAngelo Williams, a speedy and elusive running back who rewrote the record books, will be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in December as part of the 2023 class. Williams will become the first Tiger player to be inducted. He joins former Memphis head coaches Billy J. Murphy (2022) and Allyn McKeen (1991) as UofM inductees.

The Wynne, Ark., native was a first-team All-American as a senior in 2005 when he finished seventh in Heisman Trophy voting and was runner-up for the Doak Walker Award, given to the nation’s top running back. He was a three-time Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year (2003-05) and a third-team All-American in 2004.

Williams still holds the NCAA FBS record with 34 games of 100 or more rushing yards. He finished his career as the FBS record holder in all-purpose yards with 7,573, now ranking fourth.

The star running back was also instrumental in helping the football program gain respect nationally. The Tigers earned three-consecutive bowl appearances from 2003- 05, winning the 2003 New Orleans Bowl and 2005 Motor City Bowl. Prior to 2003, the program had appeared in just two bowl games in its history and none since 1971.

Williams also holds virtually every career, single-season and single-game rushing record in UofM history, including career rushing yards (6,026) and touchdowns (60). He boasts the top two single-season rushing performances in school history with 1,964 yards in 2005 and 1,948 yards in 2004.

The Carolina Panthers selected Williams with the 27th overall pick in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft. After setting multiple franchise records over nine seasons with the Panthers, he spent two seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers before retiring. He twice led the NFL in rushing touchdowns (2008, 2015), was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2009 and received second-team All-Pro honors in 2008.

Williams’ charitable activities include the DeAngelo Williams Foundation, which he founded in 2006 in honor of his mother, Sandra, and four aunts who passed away from breast cancer. The Foundation's “53 Strong for Sandra” program has assisted nearly 1,000 low-income women with mammogram and cancer treatments.