Jesse Williams

Jesse Williams (born 2 November 1990), nicknamed "tha Monstar", is an Australian former professional American football defensive tackle. Williams played college football for the University of Alabama, where he was a starter on the defensive line for the 2011 and 2012 national championship teams. The Seahawks chose him in the fifth round of the 2013 NFL draft. Although he spent the majority of his pro career on the injured reserve list, Williams became the first Australian to win a Super Bowl ring as a member of Seattle's 2013 team.

Early life Williams was born on Thursday Island, Queensland, to Torres Strait Islander parents, and raised in Brisbane, attending Norman Park State School and Cavendish Road State High School. He grew up playing rugby league and basketball and did not start playing gridiron football until he was 14 years old. He first played football with the Bayside Ravens after he attended one of their practices to watch a friend play quarterback. In his first year as a player, Williams was named Rookie of the Year and made the Queensland Under 19 team that would go on to win Australian National Championships. Williams later chose to enroll at Arizona Western College, after coaches saw him play in an exhibition against New Zealand while they were teaching at a football clinic. At Western, Williams developed into one of the highest rated recruits out of junior college for the 2011 class. After receiving scholarship offers to play from over 25 schools, Williams enrolled in the University of Alabama for the spring 2011 semester, and began practice with coach Nick Saban's Alabama Crimson Tide football team. During the offseason, Williams gained a degree of internet fame when images of him bench pressing were posted to his Twitter account.

Prior to the start of the 2012 season, Williams was named to the preseason award watch lists for the Chuck Bednarik Award, the Lombardi Award, the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and the Outland Trophy. He was also named to the ESPN.com Preseason All-America Team at nose tackle.

For the 2012 regular season, Williams was a starter for Alabama as the nose guard in 13 of the 14 games, and he made 37 total tackles, one quarterback sack and blocked a kick during the course of the year. In their 41–14 victory over the Michigan Wolverines to open the 2012 season, Williams suffered a concussion that kept him out of Alabama's week two matchup against Western Kentucky. He returned to the starting line-up for their week three game against Arkansas. In their 52–0 victory over the Razorbacks, Williams also played on offence for the first time in his Crimson Tide career when he lined up at the fullback position late in the second quarter on a one-yard Eddie Lacy touchdown run. After the season, the AP named Williams to the AP All-SEC Second-team.

College statistics

Solo !! Ast !! Total !! Loss–Yards !! No–Yards !! Int–Yards !! BU !! PD !! QBH !! Rcv–Yards !! FF !! Kick

Alabama However, he eventually came well short, recording 30 reps. Predicted to be selected as high as late in the first round, Williams was taken in the fifth round of the 2013 NFL draft with the 137th overall selection by the Seattle Seahawks.

Williams signed his initial rookie contract with Seattle on 10 May 2013. On 26 August 2013, Williams was placed on the injured reserve list for the 2013 season as the result of a knee injury that sidelined him for the entirety of his rookie season with Seattle. Through Week 16 of the regular season, Williams rehabbed his knee in his native Australia where he used Orthokine to help with joint pain associated with his knee injury. Although he did not play a down during the season due to his injury, Williams became the first Australian to win a Super Bowl ring after Seattle's victory in Super Bowl XLVIII.

On 1 August 2014, Williams was again placed on the injured reserve list for the 2014 season once again as the result of a knee injury. After not playing during the regular season for a second consecutive year due to injury, the Seahawks waived Williams on 6 March 2015. Williams was re-signed on April 1, 2015.

On 9 March 2016, Williams was waived by the Seahawks.

Personal life In May 2015, Williams was diagnosed with papillary Type 2 cancer and had to undergo kidney surgery. In a statement through the Seahawks, Williams said, "Although disappointing, I am a fighter and will handle this. I am going to focus on my health and fighting this battle with a return to football as my ultimate goal".

After football, Williams became a strength and conditioning coach. He has contributed to the growth of American football in Australia and has been active in community work in his local area where he was raised.