Fansided

Whatever happened to these 30 forgotten college football superstars?

By Dante Pryor

Peter Warrick #9 of the Florida State Seminoles: (Jed Jacobsohn /Allsport)
Peter Warrick #9 of the Florida State Seminoles: (Jed Jacobsohn /Allsport) /
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PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 1: Wide receiver Mike Williams, #1 of the USC Trojans, runs after the catch during the 2004 Rose Bowl game against the Michigan Wolverines on January 1, 2004, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. USC defeated Michigan 28-14. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 1: Wide receiver Mike Williams, #1 of the USC Trojans, runs after the catch during the 2004 Rose Bowl game against the Michigan Wolverines on January 1, 2004, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. USC defeated Michigan 28-14. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images) /

27. Mike Williams, wide receiver, USC

Mike Williams is most famous for joining Maurice Clarett in declaring for the NFL draft in 2004. A federal judge ruled the NFL could not bar Clarett from entering the draft. After the ruling, Williams decided to declare as well.

Williams hired an agent and filed the paperwork for the draft, which made him ineligible to return to USC. However, the United States Courts of Appeals overturned the decision, and the United States Supreme Court refused to hear the case.

Despite being a first-round draft prospect, Williams was not eligible for the 2004 draft and could not return to USC.

Williams’ professional career went awry for several different issues. Drafted by the Lions in 2005, Williams went to an organization mired in disfunction. Williams lacked discipline early in his career as well.

Williams would bounce from Detroit to Oakland and then Tennessee. By the time Willams was a Titan, he had gained too much weight and was out of the league for two years. Pete Carroll, Willams’ former college coach, took a shot on him in Seattle.

Williams had his best seasons as a professional in Seattle. Unfortunately, his stint in Seattle was cut short because of a broken leg and ankle.

Despite a disappointing NFL career, Williams had arguably two of the best seasons by a wide receiver in USC history. In two years at ‘SC, Williams amassed 176 receptions and 30 touchdowns. Willams was named Pac-12 Freshman of the year in 2002 and was a Consensus All-American in 2003.

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