Derek Williams

A third-year defensive back who has played in 28 games ... missed remaining 12 games of the 2024 season with season-ending injury. REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE (2025) Responsible for one tackle in season opener at No. 3/2 Ohio State (8/30) ... saw action vs. San Jose State (9/6) but did not record any statistics ... recorded two tackles vs. UTEP (9/13) ... saw action vs. Sam Houston (9/20) but did not record any statistics ... saw action at Florida (10/4) ... registered two tackles (one solo) against Oklahoma (10/11) ... logged two tackles (one solo) at Kentucky (10/18) ... recorded two tackles at Mississippi State (10/25) ... led the team with eight tackles (five solo) against Vanderbilt (11/1) ... posted one tackle at Georgia (11/15) ... tallied five tackles (three solo) against Arkansas (11/22). SOPHOMORE (2024) Logged two tackles (one solo) and a pass breakup vs Colorado State in season opener (8/31) ... made his first start of the 2024 campaign at Michigan (9/7) where he made five tackles (three solo) and recorded his first career interception ... registered four solo tackles and a forced fumble that he recovered in the 34-3 win vs. No. 18/16 Oklahoma (10/12) ... suffered a season-ending injury in the game vs. Oklahoma. FRESHMAN (2023) Appeared in 13 games … registered 42 tackles (24 solo), two tackles for loss and two pass breakups … had three-plus tackles in eight games and six-plus tackles in three … made his Longhorn debut in the season-opening victory against Rice, recording three tackles (one solo) with one pass breakup … recorded two solo tackles against Wyoming … had three solo tackles at Baylor … appeared in the victory against Kansas … registered four tackles (one solo) in the Red River Rivalry against Oklahoma … tallied six tackles (three solo) with one pass breakup at Houston … established a career-high with seven tackles (three solo) with one tackle for loss against BYU … had two tackles (one solo) against Kansas State … recorded two solo tackles at TCU … tallied three solo tackles at Iowa State … collected six tackles (three solo) against Texas Tech … made one solo tackle in the Big 12 Championship Game victory over Oklahoma State … recorded three tackles (one solo) and one tackle for loss in the Sugar Bowl against Washington. HIGH SCHOOL An All-America and all-state honoree and member of a state championships team … selected to participate in the 2023 Under Armour All-America Game … rated No. 32 nationally, No. 3 among safeties and No. 4 overall in the state of Louisiana by On3 … ranked No. 69 nationally, No. 4 among safeties and No. 3 overall in the state of Louisiana by 247Sports … rated No. 55 nationally, No. 6 among safeties and No. 4 overall in the state of Louisiana by ESPN … ranked No. 49 nationally, No. 3 among safeties and No. 3 overall in the state of Louisiana by Rivals … named the No. 58 recruit nationally and to the Top 150 Dream Team by Prepstar … as a senior, part of a defense that allowed just 16.2 points per game, including eight games of 14 points or fewer, four of seven points or fewer and two shutouts … helped Westgate to a 10-4 overall record and an appearance in the Division I Non-Select semifinals in 2022 … named first-team 4A All-State by the Louisiana Football Coaches Assocation and the Louisiana Sports Writers Association in 2021, along with being the Outstanding Defensive Player by the LSWA … tabbed AllMetro Defensive MVP … accumulated 127 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, two sacks, three forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries with one returned for a touchdown as a junior … part of a defense that allowed just 16.7 points per game, including seven games of 14 points or fewer and four of eight points or fewer … helped Westgate to a 13-2 overall record, including a 4-0 district mark and title, and the Class 4A state championship in 2021 … chosen honorable mention 4A All-State by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association in 2020 … played safety, cornerback and running back as a sophomore … part of a defense that allowed 21.6 points per game with five games of nine points or fewer and two shutouts … helped Westgate to a 6-4 overall record, including a 3-2 district mark, and an appearance in the second round of the Class 4A playoffs in 2020 … also participated in track and field in high school.