Shomari Williams
Encyclopedia
Shomari Gyasi Williams is a professional Canadian football
defensive end
for the Saskatchewan Roughriders
of the Canadian Football League
. He was drafted first overall by the Roughriders in the 2010 CFL Draft
after Saskatchewan traded up to be in a position to draft him. He played college football
for the Queen's Golden Gaels
and the Houston Cougars
.
, Quebec
for two years. He was named the team's MVP and also secured a spot on the All-Canadian squad while in high school. During one of his best games in high school, Williams recorded 11 tackles and a forced fumble. While in high school, he was recruited by the University of Houston
, University of South Florida
, Rutgers, and Connecticut
.
. In his sophomore season, Williams played in all 13 of the club's games, the most action he saw during his time at Houston. During his junior year, he competed in two games. After his junior season, Williams transferred to Queen's University
. He had finished his degree in entrepreneurship
at the University of Houston, and wanted to further his education in Canada and obtain an education degree.
Williams played defensive end
for the Queen's Golden Gaels
. During the regular season he played in six games, recording 32 tackles and four sacks. He was named Queen's University Athlete of the Week twice during the season. In the playoffs, Williams contributed even more, recording 26 tackles and 5.5 sacks in four playoff games. He was named Most Valuable Player at the 2009 Mitchell Bowl
, where Queen's defeated the Laval Rouge et Or. Queen's won the 2009 Vanier Cup
as Canada's national champions.
’s Amateur Scouting Bureau rankings for players eligible in the 2010 CFL Draft
. On the day prior to the draft, the Toronto Argonauts
traded the number one overall draft pick to the Saskatchewan Roughriders
, along with the eighth overall pick, for punter Jamie Boreham
and the second and fourth overall picks in the 2010 draft. Williams was flown into Regina
to be introduced on May 2, 2010 as the number one overall selection in the 2010 CFL Draft. He agreed to a contract with the Roughriders on May 12, 2010.
Canadian football
Canadian football is a form of gridiron football played exclusively in Canada in which two teams of 12 players each compete for territorial control of a field of play long and wide attempting to advance a pointed prolate spheroid ball into the opposing team's scoring area...
defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
for the Saskatchewan Roughriders
Saskatchewan Roughriders
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a Canadian Football League team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. They were founded in 1910. They play their home games at 2940 10th Avenue in Regina, which has been the team's home base for its entire history, even prior to the construction of Mosaic Stadium at Taylor...
of the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
. He was drafted first overall by the Roughriders in the 2010 CFL Draft
2010 CFL Draft
The 2010 CFL Draft took place on Sunday, May 2, 2010 live at noon ET on TSN. 47 players were chosen from among eligible players from Canadian Universities across the country, as well as Canadian players playing in the NCAA. After a number of trades, including ones made on draft day, Toronto and BC...
after Saskatchewan traded up to be in a position to draft him. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
for the Queen's Golden Gaels
Queen's Golden Gaels
The Queen's Gaels are the athletic teams that represent Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Team colours are blue, red, and gold. Its main home is Richardson Memorial Stadium on West Campus....
and the Houston Cougars
Houston Cougars
Houston Cougars is the name given to the sports teams of the University of Houston. Informally, the Houston Cougars have also been referred to as the Coogs, UH, or simply Houston. Houston's nickname was created by early physical education instructor of the university and former head football...
.
High school
Williams first attended North Park Secondary School in Brampton, Ontario where he played football for the North Park Vikings. He then attended Champlain Regional Prep in LennoxvilleLennoxville, Quebec
Lennoxville is an arrondissement, or borough, of the city of Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada. Lennoxville is located at the confluence of the St. Francis and Massawippi Rivers approximately five kilometers south of downtown Sherbrooke....
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
for two years. He was named the team's MVP and also secured a spot on the All-Canadian squad while in high school. During one of his best games in high school, Williams recorded 11 tackles and a forced fumble. While in high school, he was recruited by the University of Houston
University of Houston
The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
, University of South Florida
University of South Florida
The University of South Florida, also known as USF, is a member institution of the State University System of Florida, one of the state's three flagship universities for public research, and is located in Tampa, Florida, USA...
, Rutgers, and Connecticut
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
.
University
At the University of Houston, Williams played mostly on special teams. During his freshman season, he also spent time as a fullbackFullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
. In his sophomore season, Williams played in all 13 of the club's games, the most action he saw during his time at Houston. During his junior year, he competed in two games. After his junior season, Williams transferred to Queen's University
Queen's University
Queen's University, , is a public research university located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Founded on 16 October 1841, the university pre-dates the founding of Canada by 26 years. Queen's holds more more than of land throughout Ontario as well as Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex, England...
. He had finished his degree in entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship is the act of being an entrepreneur, which can be defined as "one who undertakes innovations, finance and business acumen in an effort to transform innovations into economic goods". This may result in new organizations or may be part of revitalizing mature organizations in response...
at the University of Houston, and wanted to further his education in Canada and obtain an education degree.
Williams played defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
for the Queen's Golden Gaels
Queen's Golden Gaels
The Queen's Gaels are the athletic teams that represent Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Team colours are blue, red, and gold. Its main home is Richardson Memorial Stadium on West Campus....
. During the regular season he played in six games, recording 32 tackles and four sacks. He was named Queen's University Athlete of the Week twice during the season. In the playoffs, Williams contributed even more, recording 26 tackles and 5.5 sacks in four playoff games. He was named Most Valuable Player at the 2009 Mitchell Bowl
Mitchell Bowl
The Mitchell Bowl is one of the two semifinal bowls of Canadian Interuniversity Sport men's football, and is the semifinal held in the westernmost location of the two semifinal venues. The winner of this game goes on to play against the Uteck Bowl champions for the Vanier Cup...
, where Queen's defeated the Laval Rouge et Or. Queen's won the 2009 Vanier Cup
Vanier Cup
The Vanier Cup is the name of the championship of Canadian Interuniversity Sport football and the name of the trophy awarded to the victorious team. It is currently played between the winners of the Uteck Bowl and the Mitchell Bowl...
as Canada's national champions.
Professional career
After impressing at the CFL Evaluation Camp, Williams was named the top prospect in the Canadian Football LeagueCanadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
’s Amateur Scouting Bureau rankings for players eligible in the 2010 CFL Draft
2010 CFL Draft
The 2010 CFL Draft took place on Sunday, May 2, 2010 live at noon ET on TSN. 47 players were chosen from among eligible players from Canadian Universities across the country, as well as Canadian players playing in the NCAA. After a number of trades, including ones made on draft day, Toronto and BC...
. On the day prior to the draft, the Toronto Argonauts
Toronto Argonauts
The Toronto Argonauts are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League. The Toronto, Ontario based team was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest existing professional sports teams in North America, after the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta...
traded the number one overall draft pick to the Saskatchewan Roughriders
Saskatchewan Roughriders
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a Canadian Football League team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. They were founded in 1910. They play their home games at 2940 10th Avenue in Regina, which has been the team's home base for its entire history, even prior to the construction of Mosaic Stadium at Taylor...
, along with the eighth overall pick, for punter Jamie Boreham
Jamie Boreham
Jamie Boreham is a professional Canadian football punter/placekicker in the Canadian Football League who currently plays for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He was acquired by the Bombers from the Saskatchewan Roughriders on October 2, 2011...
and the second and fourth overall picks in the 2010 draft. Williams was flown into Regina
Regina, Saskatchewan
Regina is the capital city of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The city is the second-largest in the province and a cultural and commercial centre for southern Saskatchewan. It is governed by Regina City Council. Regina is the cathedral city of the Roman Catholic and Romanian Orthodox...
to be introduced on May 2, 2010 as the number one overall selection in the 2010 CFL Draft. He agreed to a contract with the Roughriders on May 12, 2010.