Ole Miss defensive lineman Sam Williams keeping focus amid career season
Sam Williams is having a career season, but the Ole Miss defensive lineman is keeping his focus on the here and now.
In last week’s game against Liberty, Williams recorded 2.5 sacks on Flames quarterback Malik Willis. The rest of the Rebel defense had 6.5 sacks, but it was Williams who had the most notable ones.
The senior now has 10.5 sacks on the year, setting a new modern-day, single-season school record. Williams surpassed the previous record of 10 sacks, set by Greg Hardy (2007) and Marquis Haynes (2015).
Setting the record was not something Williams was aware of at the time it happened, but the accomplishment made what was already a special day for his family even more so.
“At the moment it didn’t (sink in) until they announced it,” Williams said. “I was like, ‘Dang, I set the record.’ I didn’t even realize that, and then it was my son’s birthday, his first birthday. It was pretty special. I’ll never forget it.”
With his success this season, Williams’ NFL Draft stock appears to be rising.
The sack record is eye-opening enough through nine games. But Williams is filling up the rest of his stat sheet this year, and it is getting people talking about the potential for him to play on Sundays next fall.
Williams has 42 total tackles, with 12 of them for a loss. He has also forced four fumbles and recovered one. When he isn’t bringing the quarterback to the ground, he’s hurried them five times and broken up a pass.
With only a third of the regular season remaining, the NFL mock draft boards are starting to pop up. Chatter is growing, too, for a prospect’s potential to move up.
Williams name is one of them, but the senior is not worried about the next level. At least not yet.
“Stock rising, stock lowering, it can go day by day,” Williams said. “So, every day I come with the same mindset: What can I do to help this team win? What can I do to make sure I’m putting my team in a position to be better and have situations where they can trust me?’ NFL, yeah, I think about it, dream about it, but I’m focusing on the next day and the next game.”
Texas A&M quarterback Zach Calzada poses a different challenge for Williams.
Over the past few games, the Ole Miss defense has had to combat an opposing quarterback with the ability to use their legs to beat them.
Calzada is more of a traditional pocket passer with a strong arm who does not look to run as an option very often. The sophomore has 35 rushing yards and a touchdown on 27 carries through nine games.
The dynamics shift and priorities change for an opposing defense when the skillset of the quarterback changes.
“We’re just going to see,” Williams said of preparing for Calzada.
No. 12 Ole Miss (7-2, 3-2 SEC) hosts No. 11 Texas A&M (7-2, 4-2) on Saturday at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN.
