Trevor Williams (American football) facts for kids

Trevor Williams (born September 15, 1993) is an American former professional football player. He played as a cornerback for teams like the San Diego / Los Angeles Chargers, Arizona Cardinals, and Philadelphia Eagles in the National Football League (NFL).

Trevor played high school football at Calvert Hall College High School in Towson, Maryland. He was a top player there, earning honors like first-team All-State. He then played college football for four years at Penn State. After college, he joined the Chargers in 2016. He became a starting player in 2017 and played well, but later faced injuries. He also spent time with the Cardinals, Eagles, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Trevor Williams' Early Life and High School Football

Trevor Williams grew up in Baltimore, Maryland. He attended Calvert Hall College High School in Towson, Maryland. In high school, he was a two-year letterman, which means he played well enough to earn a special award for two years. He was also a team captain for two years, showing his leadership skills.

Trevor played both wide receiver (catching the ball) and free safety (defending against passes) in high school. In 2010, his junior year, his team had a great season with 11 wins and only 1 loss. They won their first conference championship since 1982. Trevor received special awards like All-Metro and All-Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) for his excellent play.

In his senior year (2011), Trevor continued to shine. He earned more honors, including First Team All-State. He caught 99 passes for 1,180 yards and scored 15 touchdowns. On defense, he made 31 tackles and had four interceptions. After high school, he was invited to play in special games like the Crab Bowl and Chesapeake Bowl.

College Recruitment and Choosing Penn State

After his impressive high school career, Trevor was a highly sought-after player by colleges. Websites like Rivals.com and 247Sports.com rated him as a "three-star recruit." This means he was considered a very good player with potential to play in college.

Trevor decided to play college football at Penn State. He officially committed to Penn State on January 22, 2012. He had also received offers from other colleges, and he had even committed to West Virginia initially before changing his mind to Penn State.

Trevor Williams' College Football Career at Penn State

Trevor Williams played for the Penn State Nittany Lions from 2012 to 2015. He started his college career as a wide receiver in 2012. However, he later switched to playing cornerback for his last three seasons.

In 2012, Trevor played in 12 games and caught 10 passes for 97 yards. He also returned four kickoffs. In 2013, he changed to cornerback. He played in 12 games and started six of them. He made 24 tackles, broke up eight passes, and had two interceptions.

Key Seasons and Awards at Penn State

The 2014 season was a strong one for Trevor. He started all 12 games he played in. He recorded 27 tackles, two interceptions, and five pass breakups. He was even named the Big Ten Conference Defensive Player of the Week after a great game against Rutgers. For his excellent performance, he earned Honorable Mention All-Big Ten honors.

In 2015, Trevor continued to play well, starting all 13 games. He made 33 tackles and had one interception. For the second year in a row, he was named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten. He also won the Ridge Riley Memorial Award, which is given to a Penn State player who shows good sportsmanship, leadership, and friendship.

Overall, Trevor played in 49 games during his college career. He finished with 84 tackles and five interceptions. He earned a degree in recreation, parks, and tourism management.

Trevor Williams' Professional Football Journey

After college, Trevor Williams entered the 2016 NFL draft. He was considered the 30th best cornerback in the draft. Even though he wasn't drafted, he still got a chance to play in the NFL.

Joining the San Diego / Los Angeles Chargers

On May 10, 2016, Trevor signed a contract with the San Diego Chargers. He worked hard during training camp to earn a spot on the team. Although he was initially waived (released) by the Chargers, he was quickly signed to their practice squad. A practice squad is where players train with the team but aren't on the main roster.

On October 7, 2016, Trevor was promoted to the active roster. This happened after another cornerback, Jason Verrett, got injured. Trevor made his NFL debut on October 9. He got his first career tackle the following week. He made his first start in Week 12 and finished his rookie season with 31 tackles and five pass breakups in 12 games.

In 2017, the Chargers moved to Los Angeles and became the Los Angeles Chargers. Trevor became a starting cornerback for most of the season after another injury to Jason Verrett. He played in all 16 games and started 15 of them. He had a great year, recording 56 tackles, 13 pass deflections, and two interceptions. He even intercepted Buffalo Bills quarterback Nathan Peterman. Many experts considered him one of the top cornerbacks that season.

Later Years with the Chargers and Other Teams

Trevor started the 2018 season as a starting cornerback again. However, he suffered an ankle injury that made him miss preseason games. He played in the first seven games of the season, even returning an interception for a long 86-yard gain. But he was later benched and then placed on injured reserve in December 2018 due to injuries.

In 2019, Trevor continued to struggle with injuries and was eventually released by the Chargers in October. He then joined the Arizona Cardinals for a short time, playing in two games.

In 2020, Trevor signed with the Philadelphia Eagles. He was released and re-signed a few times, spending time on their practice squad. He played in two games for the Eagles before being placed on injured reserve with a rib injury. Later in 2020, he also spent time on the practice squads of the Jacksonville Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers, but he did not play in any games for those teams. He was released by the Steelers in May 2021.