Garry Williams (gridiron football) facts for kids

Garry Williams (born August 20, 1986) is a former American football player. He played as an offensive tackle for the Carolina Panthers in the National Football League (NFL). Garry went to the University of Kentucky, where he played college football for the Wildcats. He studied community communications and leadership development there.

Williams joined the Panthers in 2009 as an undrafted free agent. This means no team picked him in the NFL draft, but he was still signed. He faced many injuries while playing for the Panthers. These injuries made it hard for him to be a regular starter, even though he had many chances. In 2012, Williams played a full season. He helped his team set a record with 29 first downs in one game.

Early Life and High School Football

Garry Williams played high school football at Seneca High School MCA for the Red Hawks. He started as a defensive tackle when he was a freshman. Later, he switched to playing offensive tackle. His team, the Red Hawks, made it to the playoffs every year he played.

Senior Year Achievements

In his senior year, Garry was named a first-team all-state player in 2003. This honor came from the Associated Press and the Courier-Journal. He helped his team achieve a great 10–2 record. They also reached the second round of the state playoffs. For the first time ever, the Red Hawks were ranked first in the state that season.

Track and Field Success

Besides football, Williams also competed in track and field at Seneca. In 2003, he was ranked second in the state for shot put.

College Football Career

In early 2004, Garry Williams decided to play football at the University of Kentucky. However, he did not join the team that year. He later confirmed his commitment to Kentucky in 2005 and enrolled.

First Seasons at Kentucky

During the 2005 season, Williams played in five games. He then started in the last three games of the season as a left tackle. In his second year, he started 12 games. His team named him the Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman. In early 2007, Williams was temporarily suspended from the Wildcats for academic reasons. But his suspension was lifted before the season began.

Later College Years and Awards

In 2007, Williams started all 13 games. He was named a second-team All-SEC player. The Wildcats offense also broke a team record that year. They scored 475 points in Williams' junior season, which was their highest ever. Williams was named the SEC's offensive lineman of the week for his play against the Florida Atlantic Owls on September 29.

As a senior, Williams was again named to the All-SEC second-team. He started in 11 games that season. He was also named the team's most outstanding offensive lineman. This was because he only allowed one sack the entire season. A knee injury caused Williams to miss two games in his senior year. He finished his college career at Kentucky having played 45 games and starting 39 of them.

Professional Football Career

Carolina Panthers (2009–2014)

Garry Williams was eligible for the 2009 NFL draft but was not chosen by any team. He was later signed by the Carolina Panthers as a free agent. He was the only undrafted rookie to make the Panthers' main roster after training camp. Williams played his first NFL game in Week 11 of his rookie season against the Miami Dolphins. He played in seven games in 2009, mostly on special teams.

In 2010, Williams played in all 16 regular season games and started in 11. He started for the first time against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 7. He remained a starter for the rest of that season. In the Panthers' last preseason game of 2011, Williams broke his ankle. This injury caused him to miss the entire 2011 season. Head coach Ron Rivera later said the Panthers had planned for Williams to be a starter before his injury.

In 2012, Williams played in all 16 games and started in nine. In Week 15 against the San Diego Chargers, Williams started. He helped the Panthers break a team record with 29 first downs in that game. Williams also started on the offensive line that helped the team gain 273 rushing yards and 530 total offensive yards in Week 17 against the New Orleans Saints. Both of these were the second-highest values in team history.

Before the 2013 season, the Panthers released right guard Geoff Hangartner. They announced Williams as the likely starter. He started against the Seattle Seahawks in the first game of the regular season. However, he was injured and left the game. He was later found to have torn his ACL and MCL in his left knee. This injury ended his season. Williams played in the 2014 season opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. But he left practice later that week with a sore hip. He was later placed on injured reserve with a back injury, which ended his season. Williams became a free agent in 2015, and the Panthers did not sign him again.

Calgary Stampeders (2015)

The Calgary Stampeders signed Williams as an international free agent on May 28, 2015. Williams made the Stampeders' main roster after preseason. He played his first CFL game on July 18 against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He started three games as a left tackle. However, he had to leave the August 1 game against the Montreal Alouettes due to an arm injury. After X-rays, he was diagnosed with a hyperextended right elbow. He suffered several injuries during the rest of the regular season, causing him to miss several games. He returned in time to play in both playoff games for Calgary.

Chicago Bears (2016)

Williams signed with the Chicago Bears on August 4, 2016. On September 2, he was released by the team.

Personal Life and Community Service

Garry Williams was born in Atlanta, Georgia. His parents are Garry Williams Sr. and Angela Williams. While playing college football and studying at the University of Kentucky, he was involved in helping his community. He helped with a "Breakfast with Santa" event at the University of Kentucky Children's Hospital. He also rang bells to collect donations for the Salvation Army.