2021 Football Roster

21 Mark Williams

  • Position Cornerback
  • Height 5-11
  • Weight 171
  • Class Senior
  • Hometown Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Biography

Transfer from Eastern Illinois will challenge for the starting job at field corner . . . four-year starter for the Panthers (37 career starts at cornerback, from 2017-21) . . . his career totals include 156 tackles, eight interceptions (187 return yards) and 23 pass break-ups . . . his 23 career pass break-ups are tied for fifth in the EIU record book . . . EASTERN ILLINOIS | 2020-21 SEASON: Received COVID-19 season of competition waiver . . . named second-team All-Ohio Valley Conference as a defense back . . . started all six games played in the spring of 2021 at cornerback . . . recorded 22 total tackles (15 solos, 7 assists), two interceptions (63 yards) and four pass break-ups . . . matched his season high with five tackles at No. 17 Murray State and returned an interception 38 yards to a touchdown in the third quarter . . . his 25-yard interception return in the third quarter vs. Tennessee Tech set up a Panther TD on the next play . . . made four stops at Tennessee State, including one for a 13-yard loss . . . posted five tackles in the 2021 spring season opener at UT Martin, including one for a 1-yard loss, and a pass break-up; also forced a fumble . . . 2019 SEASON (JUNIOR): Started 10 games at cornerback in 2019 (DNP at Chattanooga and at Austin Peay) . . . produced 35 total tackles (27 solos, 8 assists) and seven pass break-ups . . . came up with his only interception of the 2019 season vs. Southeast Missouri . . . tallied two pass break-ups each vs. Tennessee Tech and at UT Martin . . . registered a season-high six tackles each at Indiana (5 solos), at Indiana State and vs. Jacksonville State . . . 2018 SEASON (SOPHOMORE): Started 10 games at cornerback in 2018 (DNP vs. Tennessee Tech) . . . posted a career-best 50 total tackles (43 solos, 7 assists), two interceptions and four pass break-ups as a sophomore . . . made six solo stops in the season finale at Southeast Missouri . . . recorded his second interception of the season at Jacksonville State . . . contributed seven tackles vs. Murray State . . . picked of his first pass of the season vs. Tennessee State and returned it 43 yards to set up a first-quarter TD . . . delivered a career-best 10 tackles (7 solos, 3 assists) vs. Indiana State . . . notched eight stops at Illinois State, including seven solo hits . . . had two pass break-ups in the 2018 season opener at Arkansas . . . 2017 SEASON (RED-SHIRT FRESHMAN): Named Phil Steele FCS First-Team All-American in 2017 . . . selected EIU Male Newcomer of the Year for 2017-18 . . . started all 11 games at cornerback as a red-shirt freshman . . . finished seventh on the team in tackles with 49 (36 solos, 13 assists) . . . led the Panthers in interceptions (3) and pass break-ups (8) . . . recorded six tackles each vs. Southeast Missouri (interception and PBU), Tennessee Tech (career-high 3 PBUs), Jacksonville State (all solos) and Eastern Kentucky (PBU) . . . posted a season-high seven stops (5 solos, 2 assists) vs. Illinois State . . . returned an interception 73 yards for a score in the first quarter of his collegiate debut at Indiana State in the 2017 season opener . . . 2016 SEASON: Redshirted . . . HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL DATA: Helped St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to a combined record of 27-2 over his final two seasons while helping the Raiders claim back-to-back Class 7A state championships . . . played for head coaches Rocco Casullo as a junior and Roger Harriott as a senior . . . earned All-Broward County honorable mention as a senior in 2015 after recording 31 total tackles, two interceptions and four pass break-ups . . . credited with two pass break-ups vs. Blanche Ely . . . tallied five tackles each vs. Booker T. Washington (interception), Hallandale and Flanagan (tackle for loss) . . . former high school teammate of 2019 Associated Press NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Nick Bosa (San Franciso 49ers) . . . son for Darryl and Marlina Williams . . . father Darryl had 31 career interceptions during his 10-year career in the NFL (6 seasons with Cincinnati Bengals, 1992-95 and 2000-01; 4 years with Seattle Seahawks, 1996-99) . . . received a bachelor’s degree from business management from Eastern Illinois.
 

Statistics

Season Statistics

Season Statistics

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Career Statistics

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