Know Your Wildcat: Avery Williamson

Photo by Regina Rickert for KSR

During the slow and insipid summer of 2008, former KSR wordsmith Evan Hilbert profiled each and every member of the University of Kentucky football team. Though his knowledge was sparse and his research was far from thorough, Evan’s short and insufficient player profiles were an integral part of Kentucky’s success that season. UK finished with seven wins, including the opener at Louisville and a 25-19 victory in the Liberty Bowl. Kentucky hasn’t won a bowl game since. Let’s bring back that magic…

Previous profiles: Javess Blue, Fred Tiller, A.J. Legree, Landon Foster, Patrick Towles, Kory Brown, Tyler Robinson, Donte Rumph, Demarco Robinson, Raymond Sanders, Mister Cobble, and Maxwell Smith.

 

#40 AVERY WILLIAMSON

Vitals

— Height: 6’1″

— Weight: 238 lbs.

— Class: Senior

— Experience: 3L

— Position: Linebacker

— Hometown: Milan, Tennessee

— High School: Milan

— Twitter: @awill40

Class of 2010 High School Ranking

— Rivals.com: #14 in Tennessee,

— Scout.com: #151 OLB,

— 247Sports.com: NR

— ESPN Recruiting: #56 ILB

How He Got Here

Williamson committed to Kentucky on November 23, 2009, choosing the Cats over Arkansas State and New Mexico. He also had interest from Memphis, Middle Tennessee State ,Ole Miss, Tennessee and Vanderbilt. He was a first team all-state linebacker, and led his team to the state championship, only to lose to Alcoa High School (alma mater of Randall Cobb and Tyler Robinson). At the time, ESPN said that Avery had the “athletic ability to be a major contributor to his team at the next level.” Turns out they were right.

Freshman Season, 2010

Avery played in all thirteen games his freshman year, and settled in to his role as middle linebacker. He had ten tackles and one pass breakup.

Sophomore Season, 2011

In 2011, Avery also played in every game, racking up 49 tackles, with at least two in every game. He had a season-high seven tackles in UK’s win over Jacksonville State, an interception against Florida, and caused a fumble at South Carolina.

Junior Season, 2012

Avery really hit his stride in his third year, starting all twelve games and finishing with 135 tackles, the second-highest in the SEC, and seventh-highest in the nation. As a result, he was named to a number of All-SEC lists, and preseason All-SEC lists for 2013. Williamson had eight double-figure tackle games in 2012, with a career-best 20 tackles against Vanderbilt. He became the first Cat in 22 years to go four straight games with thirteen tackles in each. He also had 4.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, four pass breakup, caused two fumbles, one fumble recovery, and an interception against Western Kentucky.

In his own words:

Something You Didn’t Know About Him

Avery was one of three Cats to go to Ethiopia this past summer on a service trip, and the experience meant so much to him he’s planning to go back next year. He said that seeing the poverty in person made him grateful for what he has, and he actually gave most of his clothes and belongings away to people he met along the way. Wait, you already knew that? Well, I bet you didn’t know that Avery can cook a really, really good omelet.

Something We Made Up About Him

It’s no secret that Avery is comfortable in front of a crowd. He’s represented Kentucky at SEC Media Days, as well as co-hosted most of the Women’s Clinic this past year. Avery’s talent on the stage has prompted him to start doing stand-up at local comedy clubs in his spare time. He’s also been voted “Best Smile” by the girls of Chi Omega at UK three years in a row.

Unfair NFL Comparison

Patrick Willis, San Francisco 49ers

Outlook for 2013

Both Mark Stoops and DJ Eliot have said repeatedly that Williamson is one of the best players on defense, and is “miles ahead” of the other linebackers. That’s good, because he will play a key role in the defense’s switch from 3-4 to Eliot’s 4-3. More importantly, he’s stepped up as a leader, drawing praise from Stoops for his positive influence on the team. After Joker left, there was some concern that out of loyalty, not all of the returning players would be “Stoops’ guys,” but Avery has led the way in bridging the gap between the veterans and freshmen. In his senior year, expect Avery to leave it all out on the field, and get on his teammates that don’t.