MONTREAL – After a productive rookie season in Edmonton, former Carson-Newman All-American safety Darius Williams has signed a one-year contract to stay in the Canadian Football League with the Montreal Alouettes.
Williams registered 30 defensive tackles and six on special teams in his first season in the CFL with the Edmonton Elks, in 2021. The 23-year-old played in all 14 games with his team.
A two-time All-SAC selection, two-time all-region honoree and 2017 All-American, Williams made his mark at Carson-Newman.
Williams racked up 179 tackles with 15 for loss. He finished his Carson-Newman career with eight picks and the sixth most interception return yards (212) in program history.
As a senior, he had 65 tackles and 7.5 for loss on the year. The 7.5 tackles for loss are a school record by a defensive back. He had back-to-back double-digit tackle efforts in weeks two and three against Wingate and UVA-Wise.
He followed a then-career best 12 stop day against the Bulldogs with a 13-tackle day against the Highland Cavaliers. He had a 76-yard interception return, one of two picks on the year, against UVa-Wise.
As a sophomore, he led the South Atlantic Conference in picks with five. Williams tallied a pick in three straight games from Sept. 23 against Newberry to Oct. 7 against Limestone. His top effort though came against Tusculum when he snared an INT and returned it 58 yards to the house for the Eagles' lone defensive touchdown of the season.
He showed his first flash of brilliance as a freshman when he brought back a blocked punt for a touchdown against Saint Augustine's.
A product of Northside Christian School in St. Petersburg, he was selected to play in the Senior Bowl following the conclusion of his career for the Orange and Blue.
