Oklahoma football: Former OU defensive star Roy Williams to be inducted into College HOF

Former Oklahoma football defensive star Roy Williams is part of the 2022 class that will be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

The Redwood, California, native was a star safety on the Sooner teams in Bob Stoops’ first three years as head coach. Williams joins 18 former players and three head coaches who will be formally inducted into the college game’s highest fraternity later this year. The 21 inductees for 2022 were selected from an original candidate list of 177 players and 40 coaches.

Williams was a three-year starter on defense for Oklahoma between 1999 and 2001 and was an impact player on the Sooners’ 2000 national championship team. He was an All-Big 12 First-Team selection in 2000 and 2001 and a consensus All-American in 2001.

In his final season, in 2001, Williams was awarded the Bronko Nagurski Award as the best defensive player in college football and the Jim Thorpe as the country’s top defensive back. He was also named Defensive Player of the Year in the Big 12.

His 2001 season, Williams was credited with 107 total tackles to go along with 22 pass breakups, which still stands as a program record.

Williams’ college career at Oklahoma will best be remembered by his epic play against Texas quarterback Chris Simms in the 2001 Red River Showdown game.

With the Longhorns backed up against their own goal line late in the fourth quarter, Williams leapt high in the air and knocked the ball out of Sims hand as he was attempting to pass. The deflected ball ended up in the hands of Sooner linebacker Teddy Lehman, who took two steps into the end zone for an OU touchdown. That stretched a 7-3 Sooner lead to 14-3 to seal the victory.

Williams elected not to return for his senior season, instead declaring for the NFL Draft. He was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the first round of the 2002 NFL Draft. He played nine seasons in the NFL, seven with the Cowboys and two with the Cincinnati Bengals. He was a first-team All-NFL selection in 2003 and was named to the NFL Pro Bowl team five times.

In 2003, Williams donated $100,000 toward OU’s 4,500-square-foot Roy Strength Training Facility, now known as “The Roy.” The facility is currently utilized as the team’s secondary weight room.

The official induction ceremony for the College Football Hall of Fame 2022 class will be held in December at the annual National Football Foundation dinner.