Background
Williams was born in Kirkwood, Missouri.
Williams was born in Kirkwood, Missouri.
He attended Rockwood Summit High School in Fenton, Missouri, and played high school football for the Rockwood Summit Falcons.
He was drafted by the Ravens in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft. He played college football at Missouri Southern. He was an all-conference and all-state selection for Rockwood Summit at defensive tackle, and led the Falcons with 99 tackles and seven sacks in 2006.
He transferred to Harmony Preparatory School in Cincinnati, Ohio for his senior year.
Williams attended Missouri Southern State University, where he played for the Missouri Southern State Lions football team from 2008 to 2012. He was major contributor as a freshman finishing eighth on the team in tackles with 38, including three for loss and 1.5 sacks.
After redshirting in 2009 because of an injury, he returned the following year in 2010 and Williams led the Lions with nine sacks and 17 tackles for loss and was named to three-different All-American teams. As a junior in 2011, he was a unanimous All-Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) selection after finishing the season third in the MIAA in sacks with 8, while ranking second in the conference in tackles for loss with 16.
He finished the season second on the team with 68 tackles, 31 solo, including 16.5 for a loss.
He had 8.5 sacks, two pass break ups, eight quarterback hurries, five forced fumbles and one safety on the season and finished third in the MIAA in sacks and tackles for a loss, while ranking second in forced fumbles. 2013 NFL Draft
He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the third round, with the 94th overall pick, of the 2013 NFL Draft. Williams became the first Missouri Southern State draftee since Allen Barbre in 2007.