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National Signing Day rewind: How No. 1 overall recruits fared through the years

By Patrick Schmidt

COLUMBIA, SC - AUGUST 29: Jadeveon Clowney #7 of the South Carolina during their game at Williams-Brice Stadium on August 29, 2013 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
COLUMBIA, SC - AUGUST 29: Jadeveon Clowney #7 of the South Carolina during their game at Williams-Brice Stadium on August 29, 2013 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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MIAMI – NOVEMBER 22: Quarterback Ryan Hart #13 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights attempts to avoid contact from linebacker D.J. Williams #17 of the Miami Hurricanes during the game on November 22, 2003 at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida. The Hurricanes won 34-10. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
MIAMI – NOVEMBER 22: Quarterback Ryan Hart #13 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights attempts to avoid contact from linebacker D.J. Williams #17 of the Miami Hurricanes during the game on November 22, 2003 at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida. The Hurricanes won 34-10. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

D.J. Williams

  • Year: 2000
  • High School: De La Salle (Concord, CA)
  • Position: ILB
  • College: Miami

D.J. Williams played at one of the premier high school programs in the nation at De La Salle where he was named the USA Today Defensive Player of the Year after recording 130 tackles, six sacks, five forced fumbles and three fumbles recoveries. As a running back, he ran for 1,974 yards and set a school record with 42 touchdowns.

Williams went to Miami where he was a two-time All-Big East selection and won a national championship on the famed 2001 team. As a senior, he was named a Butkus semifinalist and was named a third-team All-American after finishing second on the team with 82 tackles and adding six sacks on top of that.

After his career at Miami, Williams was the No. 17 pick in the 2004 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos. Williams led the team in tackles as a rookie and later led the AFC in combined tackles during the 2007 season. Williams was a tackling machine who played at all three linebacker positions in the 4-3 scheme before playing on the inside in the 3-4 scheme Mike Nolan brought to Denver.

Williams was a solid, albeit not a spectacular pro, but played 11 years in the NFL and recorded 897 combined tackles, 22.5 sacks, 14 forced fumbles, seven fumble recoveries and two interceptions during his career.

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