The Early Life of Cadillac Williams
Carnell Lamar “Cadillac” Williams was born on April 21, 1982, in Gadsden, Alabama. He was raised by his mother Sherry Williams, and he was the third of her four children. Known as a lively and exuberant child, Williams got his nickname, “Cadillac,” from a youth baseball coach who noticed the boy’s fast and smooth running style, which reminiscent of the luxurious car brand.
Williams attended Etowah High School where he participated in several sports, but he particularly excelled in football. He was in the top 25 on recruiting boards across the country for his class, his skills on the field already gaining him recognition on a national level.
College Career
Williams chose to continue his sports career at Auburn University. His first season saw him pacing the charge for the Tigers, rushing for 614 yards. Over the subsequent years, he continued to shine, averaging 5.3 yards per carry and scoring 45 touchdowns. His efforts helped Auburn win multiple sporting events and secured them a spot in the SEC Championship.
However, even with the team’s success, Williams’ college career was not without trials. His junior year was marred by a broken leg and a foot injury, causing him to miss the majority of the season. Despite these challenges, Williams’ performance during his senior year solidified his place as one of the top running back prospects for the upcoming NFL Draft.
Professional Career
In 2005, Williams was selected as the fifth overall pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFL Draft. He hit the ground running and put on a stellar performance in his first year, taking home the NFL Rookie of the Year award.
As a Buccaneer, Williams was a formidable force on the field. However, a series of knee surgeries threatened to derail his professional career. In 2007, he tore his patellar tendon, and in 2008, he suffered another similar injury. These obstacles forced him to miss out on the 2009 season, marking a low point in his impressive career.
Despite his injuries, Williams mounted an impressive comeback in the 2010 season, demonstrating his resilience and dedication to the sport. He played two seasons with the St. Louis Rams before officially retiring from professional football in 2011.
Post-Career and Current Life
Taking his passion for the sport forward, Williams transitioned into a career of coaching after retiring from professional football. He served as an intern for the University of West Georgia before taking up a position as the running backs coach at Henderson State University, where he spent three seasons. Recently, he rejoined his alma mater, Auburn University, in 2019 as their new running backs coach.
Notes
Image Description
The image features Cadillac Williams during his football career. He’s in his Tampa Bay Buccaneers uniform, holding a football and running down the field with determination in his eyes.