Tag Archives: aaron williams

NFL, University of Texas

Williams, Aaron (3)

Cards: Sage 2011, Upper Deck 2011, Score 2011, Playoff Contenders 2011, Playoff Threads 2011, Panini UT 2015, PressPass 2011,
Acquired: IP, Aaron Williams Lone Star Showcase 2015, UT Coop Celebration 2016.
See Also: Aaron Williams, Aaron Williams (2)

Making a habit of grabbing a few Aaron Williams autographs
when I see he’s around.  While there seems to be an almost endless supply of cards, I’m still finding quite a few nice ones here and there especially this surprising Sage 2012 entry.  The
Playoff Contenders was a late find and a really nice card.  I appreciate the reflective areas on the card.  Even though Upper Deck seems to be taking a beating recently, I do appreciate the 1991
throwback entry they did of Williams. The Press Pass card left much to be desired however.    When I showed Aaron his Panini 2015 UT card at the Coop, he stopped to show Fozzy Whittaker how it looked. I knew he wanted one but unfortunately I did not have an extra.  Shawn luckily had one to give him.

I really liked the Lone Star Showcase. Williams crew ran a tight ship and the kids really appreciated the camp, event, and how it was run. Aaron started the LSC because he felt that if he just had the guidance and help earlier, he could’ve been a better player and teammate. In a sense this is his way of giving back. After the event, the best kids were given trophies.  It was a really hot event, but it was worth it. Outside of the autographs, the highlight of the event was the DB WR drills and watching these kids go up one on one on each other. I really wish something like this had existed when I was a kid as there was no shortage of NFL talent on the field willing to help, teach, and encourage these youngsters. Aaron continues to be highly active in Central Texas hosting events, and making charitable radio appearances.

 Aaron really blossomed into the heart and soul of the Buffalo defense. His knowledge and understanding of Rex Ryan’s defense was unparalleled. The strong safety was leaned heavily upon in the system, and as neck and concussion issues have impacted his playing time- it has had an adverse effect on the Bills defense as well. He’s been limited to 10 games over the last two seasons, posting 22 tackles, an interception, 8 passes defensed, and a fumble recovery for a TD. In March of 2017, Aaron Williams was released by the Buffalo Bills. He’s weighing his options as he hopes to continue his career elsewhere.

NFL, University of Texas

Williams, Aaron (2)

sage12 a williamssco11 awilliamsdor&s11 awilliamssp11 awilliams
Cards: SageHit 2011, Donruss Rookies & Stars 2011, Score 2011, SP Authentic 2011
Acquired: 2/26/14, Rudy’s Ribfest 4

Aaron had a difficult transition his first few years there in Buffalo, but you have to hand it to the Bills and Williams being patient with finding his role in the defensive system. After a change of head coaches and defensive coordinators, it looks like Aaron will be the team’s answer at strong safety. He started 14 games in 2013 and recorded 60 tackles, 4 interceptions, 11 passes defensed, and a forced fumble.  After the Bills were unable to come to a long term arrangement with free safety Jarius Byrd, the team upped its contract with Aaron instead.

I had a grand plan for Ribfest this year in order to hit as many of the locations as I could. Well, other than the traffic working against me, so were the guests of honor at the event, and the Rudy’s staff. They were incredibly clueless of who was going to be at which location, and who exactly any player was. It was frustrating. Still I made my first stop at the Round Rock location and waited him out. He arrived in style in a dapper, white 4 door Porsche. Aaron really liked his Donruss Rookies & Stars card and paused to show his friend the card before he signed. I got  him shortly after on these 4 cards. The 5th was his Topps debut card, but he claimed that the photo on the card was not of him. Chris Houston who was supposed to be there with him was a last minute scratch, so I bolted for the 183 location with little time to spare for Fozzy Whittaker and a mystery guest.

NFL, University of Texas

Williams, Aaron

udut11 a williamsCards: Upper Deck 2011, UT Upper Deck 2011
Acquired: 2/16/2013, Longhorn Neighborhood Foundation Bowling Tournament

The #4 rated cornerback prospect coming into the draft, Aaron Williams was the 2nd round pick of the Buffalo Bills in 2011. Posting pretty solid numbers, Williams ran a 4.4 40 on his Pro Day, and finished his rookie season with 32 tackles, 5 pass defensed, 1 forced fumble, and 1 pick in 6 starts. In 2012 Williams had 10 starts and notched 32 more tackles, and 7 pass defensed.

The mercurial Williams went to school locallyud11 awilliams in Austin, and then to the University of Texas in 2008. UT is frequently known in circles as ‘DB U’ because it produces more defensive backs that are NFL ready than nearly any other school in the nation. He appeared in 37 games for the Longhorns, including 23 starts at CB. Williams was also an outstanding special teams player, known for his knack to block and return kicks. Williams recorded 106 tackles, 12 TFL, 3 sacks, 4 picks, 6 forced fumbles, and 5 blocked punts during his time at UT. He declared after his Junior season for the NFL.

Williams, along with Keenan Robinson, and James Kirkendoll all sat at a table with me and ate lunch. I did not realize who each was (outside of J-Kirk), but later got their autographs on their respective cards. I had an extra that I let Chuck from the Zone get autographed for himself since he went to High School with Williams. Aaron is a skilled bowler and was tearing up the lanes at Highland during the LNF Bowling Tournament.