Former Lions Fullback Marquez Williams Drafted By Jaguars

MARS HILL, N.C. – Former Mars Hill football standout Marquez Williams was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the seventh round, pick 240 overall, during the 2017 NFL Draft on Saturday, April 29. Williams played three seasons at MHU and was selected to the All-SAC team twice before finishing his collegiate career with the Miami Hurricanes as a graduate student under the coaching of Mark Richt.

"Marquez is a very physical player that will be a perfect fit for the Jaguars. We are very proud of him and wish him great success", said Lions head coach Tim Clifton.

During his tenure with the Lions, Williams was named to the South Atlantic Conference All-Conference second team in 2014 and first team in 2015. In his time with the "U" he served as Miami's starting fullback in 2016 and saw action in all 13 games, making five starts. Williams made his debut for the Canes on September 3, against Florida A&M and caught the team's first touchdown of the season.

With his selection, Williams becomes the first Hurricane fullback drafted since the Cincinnati Bengals picked Nick Luchey in 1999. The Athens, Ga., native is just the second Miami fullback to be taken in the NFL Draft's modern era.

"Being drafted was a very emotional and happy time in my life", said Williams. It was an awesome experience that separates itself from every other memorable moment in my lifetime. There is no doubt my time at Mars Hill prepared me for this opportunity. I was surrounded by great coaches and great people on Mars Hill's campus and those experiences have kept everything in perspective for me. Mars Hill will always be my home away from home."

This is the third consecutive year that Mars Hill has had a former athlete drafted into the National Football League. Williams joins Denzelle Good (2015) and Johnny Maxey (2016) as the other players to make it to the next level in recent years.