Williams unsung hero of UT's stout defense

Photo by Chad Greene

Dan Williams, center, tackles Georgia's Washaun Ealey on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009 at Neyland Stadium.

Dan Williams doesn't garner the kind of attention safety Eric Berry gets. He hasn't racked up as many tackles as linebacker Rico McCoy or as many sacks as defensive end Chris Walker.

Still, Tennessee coaches and players say Williams is the key to the Vols' defensive success.

"It all starts with Dan," UT coach Lane Kiffin said. "He is playing so much better up there. He's a dominant force right now."

At 6-foot-3 and about 320 pounds, Williams is overshadowed by the larger interior linemen in the SEC.

His statistics aren't bad - 39 tackles, three tackles for a loss, one sack and a fumble recovery - but they're eclipsed by McCoy's 75 tackles, Berry's five tackles for a loss and Walker's four sacks.

Off the field he's soft-spoken and always smiling. On the field he's aggressive, and it's his speed and ability to disrupt opposing offenses that allow his fellow Vols to excel, McCoy said.

"He's playing some of the best ball in the country, I think," McCoy said. "I wouldn't have as many tackles without playing behind Dan. Dan's taking up a block or two every play, because he demands that attention."

Kiffin thinks Williams is increasing his status for the 2010 NFL draft with every game he plays.

"His numbers don't necessarily show it as far as sacks, but he's been a force in the middle," he said. "He's making himself a lot of money."

Williams hasn't always been so agile. When he reported at UT in the summer of 2005, he weighed about 260 pounds. The coaches were always after him to lose weight, and he eventually got down to about 340 before the new coaching staff came in.

After a few months of intense practices with defensive line coach Ed Orgeron, Williams is down to 320 pounds - but even that changes on a weekly basis.

"Sometimes, announcers say I'm 327, and I'm like, 'No, man, I'm 316.' But it's fine. I know I definitely won't ever get that heavy again," he said. "Right now, I feel great and I'm in shape. I definitely don't want it back."

The Memphis native lined up across from one of his best friends, Memphis offensive guard Malcolm Rawls on Saturday. They were teammates at Memphis' East High and signed with UT in 2005 before Rawls transferred to Memphis.

"Every week I talk to him. We try to see how football's going and just everyday life," Williams said. "It's kind of like this game will be something for years later. We can always talk about this to our kids and family members, and I just want to win so I can always tell him I beat him at something."

Rawls said leaving Williams behind was the toughest part of leaving Knoxville.

"It was at a period when we both weren't happy up there," he said. "We talked about it and he decided he was going to stick it out."

Some hometown fans have given Williams grief for not making the same decision Rawls made. The two enjoy a pretty intense rivalry despite being located at opposite ends of the state.

He gets teased for wearing orange when he's at home. Shortly after signing with UT, another driver took notice of the Vols license on the front of his truck one time and blocked him at a green light.

"I (eventually) pulled up beside her, and she was like, 'You just made the dumbest decision of your life.' I thought it was funny," he said. "Sometimes it's a little adventure to go home with your Tennessee stuff on."

© 2009, The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
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