Murray State University Athletics
Williams Named a Buchanan Award Nominee
10/17/2008 5:00:00 AM | Football
Murray State senior Nathan Williams is making the most of his final year of college football as the linebacker is putting together one of the finest seasons in Racer history. The efforts on the field are not going unnoticed, Williams is one of 16 players named to the Buck Buchanan Award list.
The Buchanan Award, established in 1995, honors the best defensive player in the Football Championship Subdivions (FCS). The award is named after Junious “Buck” Buchanan, the NAIA All-American and Pro Football Hall of Fame, defensive lineman who played for Grambling State from 1959 through 1962. He was selected to the NFL's All-Time Roster, indicative of his standing as one of the greatest football players of all time. Buchanan died of cancer July 16, 1992. His uniform number, 86, was retired by Kansas City in 1992.
Click here for the Buchanan Award Watch list
Williams (Murray, Ky.) leads the nation in tackles this season with 105 (15 tackles a game). He also ranks among the Ohio Valley Conference leaders with eight tackles-for-loss and 3.5 sacks. In the victory over Austin Peay two weeks ago, Williams recorded his first career interception.
“Nate is one of the hardest working players I have ever coached,” said head football coach Matt Griffin. “He is a leader by example and a coach on the field.”
He has recorded double-digit tackles in five of the seven games this season and owns two of the top five single-game tackle performances in the FCS. He is tied for single-game high this season after posting a career-best 23 tackles against Illinois State. He has also added 19 tackles against Tennessee Tech, 17 against Lambuth and 16 against UT Martin.
This season almost didn't happen for Williams. He thought that his collegiate career was over when he tore his ACL in the season opener against Louisville in 2007. After having successful surgery and going through extensive rehab, Williams was awarded a sixth year by the NCAA.
The thought of not playing his sixth year was never an option for Williams.
“I couldn't imagine not playing football when I was given the opportunity to play football,” said Williams. “So for me, there was never any doubt, any question whether I was coming back.”
