Auburn football: Ranking top 10 Tigers through first four games of 2018
By Rob Maxwell
8. Darrell Williams
Senior linebacker Darrell Williams really is coming into his own this season.
He’s second on the team in tackles with 20, has 2.0 tackles for loss and two pass breakups.
His biggest impact was felt in the Week 1 victory against Washington. In the fourth quarter, with Auburn leading 15-13, the Huskies faced third-and-goal from the 13. QB Jake Browning had a receiver cutting open in the end zone and Williams reached up just high enough to deflect the pass innocently to the turf.
It saved a touchdown. Yes, Washington kicked a go-ahead field goal, but it felt like a small victory at the time. Of course, Auburn put together a big scoring drive to beat then-No. 7 Washington, 21-16. Without Williams’ play, the season could be playing out differently.
And something you don’t see in the box score from that game: Williams had just been dinged up and left the field late in the third quarter. From the sideline, it looked like he might not return, but he did and ended up making one of the plays of the game.