This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The safety that helped make Utah one of the top turnover-forcing defenses in the country each of the last two years is moving on to the NFL.
And true to form, Marcus Williams announced on his own terms.
The 20-year-old junior announced his decision https://twitter.com/Babymagik32/status/816050336473300992";>to go pro in a statement on Twitter — never one who would hold a press conference.
"This program has developed me from a boy into a man," he wrote. "It has taught me how to sacrifice to get where I want to be. It has shown me how to face adversity no matter how bad it may be. It has show me how to respect the process and never give up on anything I start no matter how difficult the task is."
The next task: the NFL Draft.
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/prospectrankings/2017/FS";>CBS Sports projects Williams, a second-team All-American by Pro Football Focus, as the top free safety available in the NFL Draft.
Williams may credit Utah with making him the player he became,http://bit.ly/2dotXJ1";> but he drove many of the turnover-producing plays of the last two seasons.
The three-year-starter had 11 career interceptions, including five in each of the last two seasons. In both 2015 and 2016, Utah finished among the top 10 nationally in interceptions with Williams prowling the backfield. Among his many highlights: ahttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tl1lhaoQUBA";> diving pick against Arizona that ricocheted off both Chase Hansen and Nate Phillips in October.
With range and a team-best 38-inch vertical leap, Williams was also responsible for 19 passes defended in his career. When he didn't break up the pass, he was a sure tackler: He had 59 tackles or more in each of his three seasons.
Without Williams, Utah struggled: When he was injured against Oregon State earlier this season, http://www.sltrib.com/home/4494310-155/live-blog-utah-at-ucla";>the next week the secondary gave up 464 yards against UCLA.
Williams is one of three Utah juniors who went into December probing NFL possibilities. Defensive tackle Lowell Lotulelei has indicated he wants to return, coach Kyle Whittingham said following the Foster Farms Bowl, while offensive tackle Garett Bolles has yet to make his final decision — https://twitter.com/gbolles74/status/815718086863032320";>delaying his announcement on Twitter on Sunday night.
Perhaps anticipating Williams' departure, http://bit.ly/2hPZeCS";>Utah signed junior college safety Corrion Ballard in Decemeber, who is expected to join the team this month when winter conditioning commences. Rising senior Jordan Fogal is also expected to return after doing spot duty when Williams was injured.
kgoon@sltrib.com
Twitter: @kylegoon