Reed Williams

Reed Williams (born January 8, 1987 in Moorefield, West Virginia) is an American football linebacker who plays for the West Virginia Mountaineers. Williams earned the 2008 Fiesta Bowl MVP award as a junior.
Early life
Reed Williams attended Moorefield High, where he was an all-state captain of the football team's defense. Williams led his school to state titles in 2001 and 2002, the semifinals in 2004, and a runner-up finish in 2003. He averaged 130 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 26 catches at tight end, and 32.8 yards per punt as a punter every year. Williams led his team to a total 45-8 record during his tenure. Also lettered in basketball and baseball.
Collegiate career
Freshman (2005)
Reed Williams enrolled at West Virginia University in 2005. During his true freshman season, Williams played special teams. His best game was a two-tackle performance against Wofford.
Sophomore (2006)
During his sophomore season in 2006, Reed Williams rotated at the same linebacker position with junior Bobby Hathaway. He started the season with a tackle and pass deflection against Eastern Washington. He then had 6 tackles and two fumble recoveries against Maryland. In one of his better performances of the season, Williams totaled 5 tackles, a forced fumble, and a pass breakup against East Carolina. Williams then totaled three tackles against Mississippi State and five tackles against Syracuse. He then recorded a team-best 9 tackles against UConn. He then suffered a shoulder stinger against Cincinnati, but still had two sacks and forced fumbles. Williams then totaled six tackles and two sacks against Pittsburgh and a seven-yard sack against South Florida. He finished the season out with six tackles against Rutgers and seven against Georgia Tech in the Gator Bowl. At the end of the season Williams earned the Ideal Mountaineer Man Award from head coach Rich Rodriguez.
Junior (2007)
Entering the 2007 season, his junior season, Reed Williams moved from the same position to middle linebacker with Marc Magro. To open the season, Williams recorded five tackles and an interception. He then recorded 6 tackles and forced a fumble against Marshall and 9 tackles against Maryland. Against East Carolina, Williams recorded a season-low two tackles before recording 9 tackles in the loss to South Florida. He then recorded four tackles against Syracuse and Mississippi State. Then Williams totaled a career-high 12 tackles against Rutgers. He then recorded three tackles against Louisville, before totaling five tackles and a pass breakup against Cincinnati. Against Connecticut, Williams recorded 7 tackles and recovered a fumble in the endzone for a touchdown, his first score in his collegiate career. In the loss to Pitt, Williams recorded 9 tackles.
In the 48-28 victory over the Oklahoma Sooners in the Fiesta Bowl to end the season, Williams recorded 10 tackles, a sack, and forced a fumble on the Sooners' first drive en route the defensive MVP honors.
Williams finished the season with 107 tackles, one interception, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery for a touchdown.
Senior
2008
The town of Moorefield, West Virginia extended to Reed an official key to the town on January 8, 2008, declaring the occasion: "Reed Williams Day". Williams then missed all of spring practice with surgery, and it was revealed on April 27 that Williams could potentially miss the 2008 season rehabing the shoulder surgeries. However, Williams was named to the 2008 Lott Trophy Watch List.
Williams missed first two games of the season for West Virginia, but returned in the 17-14 loss to Colorado to record 6 tackles and an interception that was returned 26 yards. In the following 27-3 victory over Marshall, Williams led the team with 11 tackles and two tackles for a loss.
After the Marshall game, Williams ended his 2008 season and applied for a medical redshirt to enable him to return to his final year in 2009. Williams was replaced at middle linebacker by sophomore Anthony Leonard.
Although he cut his senior season short, Williams finished with 17 tackles and an interception.
2009
Williams applied and won the right to a medical redshirt in 2009 after missing the majority of the 2008 season with two shoulder injuries.

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