2016 Nebraska Football Media Guide

Page 159

NEBRASKA

KIERON WILLIAMS

27

JUNIOR SAFETY

6-1 l 195 l TWO LETTERS SHREVEPORT, LA. l C.E. BYRD HS AIR FORCE PREP » Brook Berringer Citizenship Team (2015, 2016) » Tom Osborne Citizenship Team (2015, 2016)

2016 OUTLOOK

Safety Kieron Williams will head into his junior season hoping to increase his role on the Husker defense, while continuing to make an impact on special teams. The 6-1, 195-pound Williams first made his mark on special teams as a true freshman tying a season record with three blocked punts. Last fall, Williams again worked as a reserve safety, while continuing to excel on special teams. Williams has played in all 26 games since joining the NU program, and is part of a group of players who will compete to earn a safety spot alongside returning senior starter Nathan Gerry. Williams spent the majority of the spring working with the top defense.

2015 (SOPHOMORE)

Williams played in all 13 games, serving as a reserve safety and a key special teams performer. Williams had seven tackles, including five solo stops. He tied for second on the team with six special teams tackles, including two solo tackles on coverage against Northwestern.

FOOTBALL

BEFORE NEBRASKA (C.E. BYRD HS/AIR FORCE PREP)

Williams played at Air Force Prep and Byrd High School before coming to Nebraska. He recorded 41 tackles in two seasons at Byrd, 36 of which were solo stops. Williams had one interception, three fumble recoveries and two pass deflections in 2011 and 2012. Williams was ranked by ESPN.com as the No. 50 safety in the country and the No. 35 overall prospect from Louisiana.

PERSONAL

Williams was born on Nov. 21, 1994, and he is the son of Saulicia WilliamsMester and James Mester. He is majoring in advertising and public relations. Williams has twice been named to the Brook Berringer and Tom Osborne Citizenships teams for his community outreach work. Williams was part of a NoFilter Service Abroad Trip to the Dominican Republic in May, serving with other Husker student-athletes. Williams has volunteered his time with Uplifting Athletes, Husker Heroes, NFL Fuel Up to Play 60, Shop With a Jock, Mad Dads and local hospital and school outreach visits.

CAREER STATS

(----------Tackles---------)

Fum. QB Year G/S UT AT TT TFL Sacks C-R BK PBU INT Hry. 2014 13/0 4 5 9 1-1 0.0-0 0-0 3 0 0 0 2015 13/0 5 2 7 0-0 0.0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 Totals 26/0 9 7 16 1-1 0.0-0 0-0 3 0 0 0

SINGLE-GAME HIGHS

» Tackles: 2 vs. Northwestern (2015), vs. Purdue (2014) » Tackles for Loss: 1 vs. Illinois (2014) » Blocked Punts: 3, 1 vs. Purdue, 2 vs. USC (2014)

CONOR YOUNG

2014 (FRESHMAN)

Williams played in all 13 games and had nine tackles, with six of his nine stops on special teams. He had four solo stops and a tackle for loss against Illinois. Williams had two tackles against both McNeese State and Purdue. Williams blocked three punts, tying the Nebraska season record. The first came against Purdue, setting up an NU touchdown. He tied a school record with two blocked punts against USC with the second setting up an NU field goal.

31

REDSHIRT FRESHMAN WIDE RECEIVER

6-2 l 170 COZAD, NEB. l COZAD HS » Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll (Fall 2015; Spring 2016)

2016 OUTLOOK

Conor Young will enter the 2016 season looking to compete for playing time in the secondary and on special teams. The 6-2, 170-pound Young was a versatile two-way player at Cozad High School before joining the Huskers as a walk-on in 2015. Young earned a spot on the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll his first two semesters. He carries a 3.917. cumulative grade-point average. Young’s older brother, Dreu, was a three-year letterwinner at tight end for the Huskers.

2015 (REDSHIRT)

Young redshirted and worked as a scout team defensive back.

BEFORE NEBRASKA (COZAD HS)

Young was a standout at Cozad High School, helping his team rank among the top schools in the Class C-1 ranks. As a senior, Young threw for 1,311 yards and 17 touchdowns for Coach Brian Cargill’s team. Young ran for 982 yards and 12 touchdowns, compiling four 100-yard rushing games. Young intercepted six passes, and had 11 pass breakups. He averaged nearly 30 yards on kickoff returns and better than 20 yards on punt returns. Young helped Cozad to a 10-2 record in 2014 and a trip to the Class C-1 state semifinals. He was a first-team Class C-1 all-state pick as a defensive back by both the Omaha World-Herald and the Lincoln Journal Star. Young was an honorable-mention all-state pick as a junior, helping Cozad to a 13-0 record and a Class C-1 state title. Young had 19 receptions for 509 yards and seven touchdowns as a junior. Defensively, he had 64 tackles, four tackles for loss and six interceptions to lead the defense. Young also shined in baseball, basketball and track throughout high school. He helped lead Cozad to a Class B State Championship track title in 2014 and was part of the championship 4x100-meter relay squad in the process.

PERSONAL

Young was born on Oct. 26, 1996, and he is the son of Marcus and Melinda Young. He is majoring in accounting, and is a two-time Nebraska ScholarAthlete Honor Roll member. He volunteered his time with Husker Heroes and Uplifting Athletes.

HUSKERS l 157


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