Dee Williams, an electric returner, leaves Tennessee
Dee Williams is officially turning pro after realizing his eligibility has run out. On Wednesday night, Williams bid Tennessee farewell, calling it a career in college and shifting his attention to the 2024 NFL Draft.
Prior to the 2022 season, Williams transferred from the JUCO ranks to Tennessee. He lost his eligibility for an additional year because he played JUCO ball during the COVID 2020 season.
Despite never being able to settle in the secondary, Williams had a huge impact on special teams as a returner. Actually, this past season, the 5-11, 194-pound athlete eventually carved out some snaps on the offensive end of the ball.
Williams finished the 2023 season with an average of almost 15 yards per return, good for sixth place nationally. In the season opener against Virginia, he flipped the field a few times. In the second half, he nearly won the game for the Volunteers with a game-changing punt return touchdown. Williams had a touchdown on a punt return against South Carolina this season wiped out by a penalty.
Williams will have the opportunity to demonstrate his return ability during training camp and the preseason, and he should end up as a fit on special teams at the next level. We will see if that is sufficient to make it onto a roster.
