University of Memphis Athletics
Pop Williams Named to Athlon Preseason All-America Team
Jun 20, 2019 | Football
Full Link to Athlon Sports' 2019 All-America Team
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Senior punt returner John "Pop" Williams has been named to Athlon Sports Preseason All-America team. Williams starts his final season at Memphis ranked sixth in program history with 51 career punt returns for 484 yards. His 9.5 ypr career average ties Darron White (2001-05) for fifth in Memphis history.
In 2018, Williams was named a first team all-conference honoree after recording 29 punts returns for 313 yards and one touchdown. His punt return touchdown in a win over Tulsa was the first for the Tigers since Roderick Proctor's return in 2015. Williams finished that Tulsa game with 109 punt return yards, a mark that ranks fifth in Tiger single game history.
A native of Destrehan, Louisiana (Destrehan HS), Williams also appeared in all 14 games as a wide receiver, with 11 starts. His 33 catches for 304 yards and two touchdowns makes him the second-leading returner at wide receiver for the 2019 season, which gets underway on August 31 with an 11 a.m. (CT) game against Ole Miss on ABC.
Williams was named a third team honoree at punt returner on the Athlon list. Temple's Isaiah Wright and Alabama's Jaylen Waddle were named to the first and second teams, respectively, while Utah's Britain Covey was named fourth team. Williams is one of just four players from the American Athletic Conference named to the national list by Athlon. In addition to Wright, also at punt returner, punter James Smith from Cincinnati was second team and UCF safety Richie Grant was fourth team.
Season tickets for the upcoming 2019 season are on sale now. Season ticket prices remain unchanged for the 2019 season, with season tickets starting at just $100 in the Family Fun Zone and $150 for End Zone seating. Tickets can be purchased online at www.GoTigersGoTix.comor by calling the UofM Ticket Office at 901-678-2331. Maps of seats available are available at www.GoTigersGo.com/2019Football.
