Williams heads north, C-N alum inks with CFL's Winnipeg
WINNIPEG, Canada - Carson-Newman All-American safety Major Williams has signed on with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League with the club's practice squad.
WINNIPEG, Canada - Carson-Newman All-American safety Major Williams has signed on with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League with the club's practice squad.
Williams originally was a minicamp invite for the Kansas City Chiefs in may before signing and undrafted free agent contract with the organization. He spent the summer with the Chiefs before being cut when the club reduced its roster to 53 on Aug. 26.
Williams is the 11th former Eagle to move on to the CFL, joining Braxton Westfield, who also spent time with Winnipeg and Darius Williams (unrelated), who played for the Edmonton Elks and Ottawa Red Blacks, as the most recent Eagles to head up north.
The safety caught the eye of scouts at the Hula Bowl after snaring an interception and earning defensive MVP honors for the annual college all-star game.
Williams is the first two-time All-American for C-N since offensive lineman Phil McDowell went back-to-back in 2018 and 2019. Williams continues a sensational run by Carson-Newman defensive backs, joining Desmond Fairell (2019), Darius Williams, no relation (2017), Jerry Miclisse (2016) and Eien Jacob (2014) as DBs to have earned All-America status in the last decade. That gives C-N six All-American DBs in the last 10 years. C-N has 21 All-America defensive backs all-time. Williams is the first defensive back to earn All-America honors in two different seasons since Montrea Ford in 1998 and 1999.
Williams was fifth on the team in tackles with 53. He had 7.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks with a pick. He also produced the first defensive PAT for the Eagles in a decade in Carson-Newman's win over Wingate in week three.
Williams had a career-high 10 tackles that day against the Bulldogs and also produced his lone pick of the season.
He finished his three-year career with 155 tackles, four picks, two fumble recoveries, 30 pass breakups and four non-offensive touchdowns.
