Darious Williams is one of those players whose path to the NFL was not a smooth one. Despite being a talented multi-sport athlete in high school, Williams was overlooked by all the big football colleges. For most young players, not making it into a well-known school marks the end of their desire to play.
He ended up at Marietta College, a Division III football program, where he played for a year. However, he ultimately left school to deal with family issues back home.
Then, Williams moved on to the University of Alabama at Birmingham. His first attempt to join the team failed, but on his second attempt as a walk-on in 2014, he made the team. There were more problems — the university canceled the football program, then brought it back, and Williams persevered.
Despite his impressive stats from UAB, during the 2018 season, he was passed over by NFL teams in the draft. The Baltimore Ravens picked him up as an undrafted free agent but released him after only four weeks. Finally, LA Rams coach Sean McVay saw what everyone else had been blind to and signed Williams.
McVay’s faith was rewarded as Williams proved that his determination off the field was matched by his production on the field. The cornerback started in Super Bowl LVI and helped the Rams secure their first Super Bowl win in over 20 years. Thats like finding a sub 70 rated CB in the MFN FA pool that produces great stats!
