AveryWilliamson

– All-SEC second team by CollegeSportsMadness.com (2012)
– All-SEC third team by Phil Steele’s College Football (2012)

Returning starter at middle linebacker … Turned in a very productive season in his first year as a regular … Finished second in the Southeastern Conference in tackles and received all-conference honors … Seventh nationally in tackles … Solid all-around player with a good instinct for finding the ball … Has ability to make plays in space … Has played in 37 games, starting 12 … Had an interesting experience in May as he spent a week in Ethiopia on an educational/service trip.

2012 (Junior): Started all 12 games … Played well throughout the season, finishing second in the SEC with 135 tackles … Placed seventh nationally in total tackles … Second-team All-SEC by CollegeSportsMadness.com and third-team all-league by Phil Steele’s College Football … Had eight double-figure tackle performances, topped by a career-high 20 stops vs. Vanderbilt … Had a streak of four games with at least 13 tackles in each game, the first UK player to do so since Randy Holleran in 1990 … Additional contributions during the season included 4.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, four pass breakups, two fumbles caused and a fumble recovery … Snagged an interception against WKU.

2011 (Sophomore): Played in all 12 games … Made 49 tackles, an impressive total for someone who didn’t start any games … Played consistently, with at least two tackles in every game … Had career-best seven tackles in win over Jacksonville State … Had an interception vs. Florida … Caused a fumble at South Carolina.

2010 (Freshman): Played in all 13 games, helping give the Wildcats depth at middle linebacker … Totaled 10 tackles and one pass breakup.

High School: First-team all-state linebacker in Class AAA as tabbed by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association … West Tennessee Player of the Year as a senior by the Jackson Sun … Led Milan HS to consecutive 14-1 records as a junior and senior, losing only in the state championship finals each year to perennial power Alcoa HS … Made 125 tackles with one interception during the regular season in his senior year … Also rushed for 416 yards and seven touchdowns at fullback … Collected 119 tackles as a junior, including 21 for loss … Set a Tennessee state championship game record with 22 tackles in the title contest … Region Defensive Player of the Year as a junior and senior … One of the top-15 players in Tennessee by Rivals.com … Played in the Tennessee East-West All-Star Game following his senior season … Was named the Defensive Most Valuable Player for the winning West team … Coached by Jeff Morris … “Avery was a self-made person whose hard work made him into an impact player,” Morris said. “His work ethic and character were perfect.” … Was named the Outstanding Senior of his graduating class, recognizing academics, character and athletics … Member of the honor-student club and the Spanish Club.

Personal: Born in Cleveland, Ohio … Son of Henry and Jacinca Williamson … Major is integrated strategic communications.

Community Cats: Participated in the Big Blue U Move-In (2011, `12), the God’s Pantry project (2012, `13), Read Across America (2012, `13), youth football team guest speaker (2012), Salvation Army bellringer (2012), Milan Middle School (2012), Picadome Elementary (2013) and volunteered for the “Be the Match” bone marrow drive (2012) … One-week educational/service trip in Ethiopia (2013).

Avery Says … When I played football as a kid, I pretended I was: myself because I rarely watched football … Other than the NFL, my dream job is: be the owner of my own company … I couldn’t live without: my family … If I could talk to anyone on Skype it would be: God … The one thing I like most about football is: brotherhood … My hidden talent is: fishing … Something people might not know about me is: that I can actually cook a great omelet.