TRAVIS WILLIAMS – CB

HEIGHT – 5-9

WEIGHT – 180

COLLEGE – East Carolina

BIRTHDATE – April 19, 1985

BIRTHPLACE – Daytona Beach, Fla.

HOW ACQUIRED – FA-‘08

NFL EXPERIENCE – Rookie

 

PRO: Signed as a rookie free agent by the Steelers on April 28, 2007.

COLLEGE: Ranks second in school history with a 13.3-yard average on 39 punt returns, topped only by Keith Stokes (15.5 avg., 1999-2000)…only Stokes (820 yards) and Gerald Hall (967, 1975-78) gained more yards on punt returns in a career at ECU than Williams’ 517…holds the school season record with a 17.7-yard punt return average in 2004, breaking the previous mark of 16.4 yards by Tommy Bullock in 1968…his 354 yards via punt returns in 2004 rank fourth on the Pirates’ season-record list behind Gerald Hall (478 in 1978) and Keith Stokes (404 in 1999 and 416 in 2000)…majored in communications. 2007: Started 9-of-10 games at weak-side cornerback…ranked fourth on the team with a career-high 56 tackles (35 solos), including 2.5 stops for minus-seven yards…caused a fumble, intercepted a pass and deflected three others…of the 58 passes targeted into his territory, the opposition caught 28 balls for 325 yards (11.61 avg.) and three scores, averaging 5.6 yards per pass attempt…made 15 of his plays on third-down and five more on fourth-down situations…collected seven of his hits inside the red zone, including four on goal-line plays. 2006: Started 9-of-12  games he appeared in at weak-side cornerback…finished with 55 tackles (36 solos) with 1.5 stops for losses of 3 yards and a forced fumble…deflected eight passes and intercepted two others, adding 59 yards on five punt returns (11.8 avg.). 2005: Played in 11 games at weak-side cornerback…recorded 13 tackles (11 solos) with a stop for a one-yard loss and two pass deflections…returned 14 punts for 104 yards (7.4 avg.) and seven kickoffs for 139 yards (19.9 avg.). 2004: All-Conference USA first-team selection as a punt returner, ranking fourth in the nation, as he set a school season record with a 17.7-yard average on 20 punt returns for 354 yards and a touchdown…appeared in 10 games, seeing action in the final three contests as a reserve strong-side cornerback and receiver…recorded 11 tackles (8 solos) with a fumble recovery…caught two passes for eight yards and lost one yard on a reverse…gained 110 yards on four kickoff returns (27.5 avg.)…garnered Conference USA Freshman Team honors…his 69-yard punt return for a touchdown was the first score by a Pirates player on a punt return since 2000…his 17.7-yard punt return average broke the old school season record of 16.4 yards by Tommy Bullock in 1968…also set ECU single-season freshman records for most punt returns (20), most punt return yards (354).

PERSONAL: Attended Atlantic (Port Orange, Fla.) High School, playing football for head coach Skip Saunier…excelled as a defensive back and running back…earned All-Volusia County honors from the Daytona Beach News-Journal and was selected to play in the Central Florida All-Star Game…gained 856 rushing yards and had 23 receptions for 317 yards, totaling 18 touchdowns as a senior…on defense, recorded 46 tackles and four interceptions while also returning a kickoff and a punt for scores as an integral member of the AHS special teams unit…Full name: Travis Craig Williams.