Jordan Williams (linebacker, born 1993) facts for kids

Jordan Cornell Williams (born March 23, 1993) is an American former professional football player. He played as a linebacker for teams like the Miami Dolphins and New York Giants in the National Football League (NFL).

Jordan played his final year of high school football at Gainesville High School in Gainesville, Florida. He then played college football for four years at Tennessee. During his college career, he played in 44 games and started 21 of them. He made 66 tackles and had 6.5 sacks.

After college, Jordan was not chosen in the 2015 NFL draft. However, he signed with the New York Jets and later played for the Dolphins and Giants. He also spent time on the Tennessee Titans team.

Early Life and High School Football

Jordan Cornell Williams was born on March 23, 1993, in Gainesville, Florida. He started playing high school football at P. K. Yonge Developmental Research School in Gainesville. During his junior year, he broke his collarbone and missed part of the season. At P. K. Yonge, he played different positions like middle linebacker, nose tackle, and tight end.

For his senior year in 2010, Jordan moved to Gainesville High School. Here, he played as a defensive end and tight end. He also spent some time as a long snapper. In 2010, he was recognized as one of the best players in his area. His team, Gainesville High, had a great season, finishing with 11 wins and only 2 losses. They even made it to the state semifinals.

Jordan was considered a good player by many scouting services. He decided to play college football for Tennessee in October 2010. He also had offers from many other well-known schools.

College Football Career

Jordan Williams played for the Tennessee Volunteers at the University of Tennessee from 2011 to 2014. He studied Arts & Sciences during his time there.

• Freshman Year (2011): He played in nine games as a defensive end. He made four tackles and had one sack.
• Sophomore Year (2012): Jordan changed his position to jack linebacker. He played in ten games and started half of them. He recorded two sacks and 17 tackles. He was also recognized for his dedication to improving his strength.
• Junior Year (2013): He moved back to defensive end. He played in 12 games and started three times. He made 1.5 sacks and 18 tackles.
• Senior Year (2014): For his final year, Jordan became a defensive tackle. He played in 13 games, starting all of them. He had two sacks, four pass breakups, and 27 tackles. He also played in the 2015 Medal of Honor Bowl.

Overall, during his college career, Jordan played in 44 games and started 21 of them. He finished with 6.5 sacks and 66 tackles.

Professional Football Career

After college, Jordan Williams was not selected in the 2015 NFL draft. However, he still got a chance to play professional football.

• New York Jets (2015): He signed with the New York Jets in May 2015. He spent some time on the team's practice squad before being released in September 2015.
• Miami Dolphins (2015–2016): Jordan then joined the Miami Dolphins' practice squad in October 2015. He was later moved to the main team roster in December. He played in one game for the Dolphins in 2015. He continued with the Dolphins in 2016, spending time on both the main team and practice squad before being released in September.
• New York Giants (2016–2018): In December 2016, the New York Giants signed Jordan to their practice squad. He signed a future contract with them in January 2017. He played in one game for the Giants in November 2017. He continued with the Giants in 2018 but was placed on injured reserve due to an injury.
• Tennessee Titans (2019): In August 2019, Jordan signed with the Tennessee Titans. He was placed on injured reserve shortly after due to an injury and missed the entire 2019 season. He was released by the Titans in July 2020.

Personal Life

Jordan Williams comes from a family of athletes. His father, Keith, was also a defensive lineman. He played football at Florida in the 1980s and was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings. He also played in the Arena Football League.

Jordan's sister, Janine, played volleyball at both Florida and UCF. Jordan also held his first annual Jordan Williams Skills Camp on July 14, 2016, to help young athletes.