With spring practice right around the corner, Tiger football has boosted its backfield for 2002 with the signing Sunday of DeAngelo Williams.
Williams, considered by many to be the top running back in Arkansas, rushed for 2,204 yards and scored 34 touchdowns as a senior at Wynne (Ark.) High School last year.
Tiger football head coach Tommy West said he’s extremely excited for Williams — who picked the Tigers over Arkansas — and Memphis.
“He fits our offensive style,” West said. “DeAngelo was our guy at the running back position that we wanted, and we stuck with him.”
Leading up to the week before signing day (Feb. 6), Memphis thought it had Williams, but he changed his mind and committed to Arkansas.
However, when Williams didn’t sign a letter of intent with the Hogs on signing day, the Tigers continued their heavy pursuit of the heralded back.
The Arkansas native visited Memphis again unofficially two weeks ago and according to Williams, the visit went well, but nothing was sent by fax or mail to Memphis the following week.
On Sunday, though, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette 2001 Offensive Player of the Year signed a letter of intent with The University, ending the tug of war between Arkansas and Memphis.
“It was frustrating because we felt all along that we had the best situation for him,” West said.
Williams, 5-9 and 195 pounds, becomes the 26th member of the Tigers 2002 signing class.
He is a speedster who has great hands and can make opponents miss with his agility.
“He fits the one-back offensive system,” West said. “He is a slashing-type running back.”
During the 2001 playoffs, Williams gained 939 yards in four games and helped lead Wynne to the Arkansas 4A championship.
In the state championship game, he scored one special-teams touchdown, two rushing touchdowns, and one receiving touchdown.
As a junior, he rushed for 1,004 yards and scored 14 touchdowns.
To go along with his football talents, Williams has also been productive in track, helping the school’s track team earn a second-place finish at the 2001 state track and field championship with a winning 200-meter time of 22:57.
