Two-time C-USA Offensive Player of the Year Returning For Senior Campaign

DeAngelo Williams

University of Memphis tailback DeAngelo Williams announced today in a
packed room of supporters, media and U of M staff that he will return to
Memphis to play his senior season.

Williams was a key factor in the Tigers finishing with an 8-4 record and
a bid to the GMAC Bowl. It was the first time ever in school history
that the Tigers had advanced to a bowl game in back-to-back years.
Williams has rewritten the rushing section of the Tiger record books,
and has received numerous honors this season.

He is a two-time Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year (04, 03),
and received recognition as a C-USA Player of the Week twice this
season. He ended the season as a finalist for the Maxwell Award, the
Doak Walker Award, the Hossman Trophy and the John Wooden Cup. He also
was named an all-American by Pro Football Weekly (third-team), the
Associated Press (first-team), CollegeSportsReport.com (second-team),
and was tabbed as a member of the Conference USA All-Decade Team. Prior
to the start of the season, CBSSportsline named Williams No. 45 among
the 50 most relevant people in college football.

Williams finished his junior campaign with 1,948 rushing yards on 313
attempts, both of which led C-USA and are school records. He also led
the nation in rushing touchdowns with 22. Nationally, he was also
second in scoring (138 points), all-purpose yards (2,230 yards), and
rushing yards (1,948). Including the GMAC Bowl, which he broke his leg
in and left the game in the third quarter, Williams rushed for more than
100 yards in 10 of the 12 games. He also netted more than 200 yards in
three of the last five games.

In the fifth game of the season, against Houston, he broke the school
record for rushing yards in a game with 262 against the Cougars. The
previous record was 260 yards set by Paul Gowen against Tulsa in 1969.
In that Houston game, Williams also became the all-time leading rusher
at the U of M. He came back in the final regular season game against
USF and set an even higher single game standard with 263 yards against
the Bulls. This season, Williams also tied the single game school
record for touchdowns after scoring four TDs against Chattanooga,
Houston and East Carolina. He also recorded the longest play from
scrimmage this season with a 75-yard touchdown run against Southern Miss.

In only three seasons, Williams also owns career records in 100-yard
games (24), rushing yards (4,062), attempts (659), and touchdowns scored
(41).