University of Memphis Athletics
Pop Williams Named Special Teams Player of the Week
Nov 12, 2018 | Football
Junior honored for dazzling punt return touchdown
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Memphis junior wide receiver John 'Pop' Williams has been named the American Athletic Conference Special Teams Player of the Week, the league office announced Monday.
Williams electrified the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium crowd with a spinning, twisting, 72-yard punt return touchdown against Tulsa on Nov. 10. The punt return TD was the first for Memphis since Roderick Proctor in the 2015 season opener against Missouri State, a stretch of 47 games.
Junior running back Darrell Henderson was also named to the Weekly Honor Roll after rushing for 166 yards and two touchdowns in the win over Tulsa.
Williams finished the game with four returns for 109 yards, just the fifth 100-yard punt return performance in program history. The 27.25 punt return average is the sixth-best single game average in program history.
With a season punt return average of 12.9 yards, Williams now leads the American Athletic Conference and ranks 10th in the FBS. His 283 total punt return yards on 22 returns this season are the most in the FBS.
Williams also had three catches and a touchdown in the win over Tulsa.
