NFL CAREER – After being selected in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft (42nd overall) out of the University of Utah, this ball-hawking safety has started all 31 regular season games he has appeared in at free safety, totaling 125 tackles, one sack, six interceptions, nine passes defensed, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and six special teams stops. Williams looks to build on his first two NFL seasons and continue to grow with one of the NFL’s most talented defensive backfields heading into 2019.
CAREER TRANSACTIONS –Signed by the Saints to a four-year contract, 6/02/17; Selected by the New Orleans Saints in the second round (42nd overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft (4/28/17).
2017 – Started all 16 games at free safety, totaling 55 tackles (46 solo), one sack, two interception returns for a club-best 100 yards, three passes defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. Started both postseason contests and posted seven tackles (three solo)…Finished with three solo tackles, a pass defensed and a fourth quarter interception return for 22 yards with New Orleans trailing 12-10 vs. Cleveland, Sept. 16. Added a special teams tackle…Tallied four tackles (three solo) and one interception brought back 78 yards, helping set up a Saints touchdown with two seconds before halftime at Cincinnati, Nov. 11…Recorded a strip sack, forced fumble and recovery with five solo tackles vs. Atlanta, Nov. 22. 2017 – Started all 15 games he appeared in as a rookie, posting 70 tackles (56 solo), four interceptions, six pass deflections and two passes defensed. Led all rookie safeties in interceptions and was ranked second for a rookie safety in total tackles and passes defensed. The talented safety posted his first career postseason interception, which was the only pick made by a rookie in the 2017 postseason…In opener at Minnesota, Sept. 11, started at free safety in his first NFL game and recorded five tackles...At Carolina, Sept. 24, started in a three-safety set and made two assisted tackles, his first career interception and one pass defensed…Tied for team lead with five tackles (five solo) and added one coverage stop at Miami in London’s Wembley Stadium, Oct. 1…At L.A. Rams, Nov. 26, recorded six tackles (five solo)…Inactive (groin) vs. Carolina, Dec. 3...At Atlanta Dec. 7, recorded six tackles (five solo), a 12-yard interception return and a pass defensed…Started and saw action on special teams and posted five tackles (four solo) and a coverage stop vs. New York Jets, Dec. 17…In Christmas Eve victory vs. Atlanta Dec. 24, Recorded five tackles (four solo)…Finished with a career-high eight tackles (career-high seven solo), a career-high two interceptions and a career-best two passes defensed at Tampa Bay, Dec. 31…Started both postseason games…In NFC Wild Card Playoff win vs. Carolina, 1/7/18, recorded eight tackles (six solo) and one pass defensed…Finished with five tackles, one interception and two passes defensed in NFC Divisional Playoff at Minnesota, 1/14/18.
COLLEGE CAREER – Productive three-year letterman at Utah who became a contributor immediately and started his last two seasons for a rising Pac-12 program. An All-Pac 12 selection his final two years and he departed with 11 interceptions, including five each in his sophomore and junior campaigns. His career totals in 37 contests with 30 starts included 189 stops, four tackles for loss, 19 passes defensed, four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries…In his final campaign at Utah, Williams opened all 11 games he played in and finished with 64 tackles, one tackle for loss, five picks, eight passes defensed, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries as he was a second-team Pro Football Focus All-American and a second-team All-Pac-12 selection…Majored in sociology.
PERSONAL – Was a first-team All-Big VIII selection at Eleanor Roosevelt (Eastvale, Calif.) HS...60 tackles, six interceptions (returned for 175 yards), one pass breakup and a forced fumble senior season...41 receptions for 924 yards (22.5 avg.) and nine touchdowns on offense...216 receiving yards and two TDs as a junior…Also played basketball and competed in track and field…6’5’’ best high jump…Had a 4.0 grade point average in high school…Enjoys fishing…Participated in the club’s Chevron Boys and Girls Club Christmas party for local youth…Held a youth football camp at his high school in June…In April, spoke to student at Our Lady of Prompt Succor School in Chalmette about the importance of education…In May, 2018, participated in the #DoRight4LA event at the NFL YET Center with local youth…Marcus Alan Williams was born Sept. 8, 1996 in Ponoma, Calif.
