Football

JoelWilliams

  • position Defensive Back
  • height 6-1
  • Weight 204
  • class Freshman
  • Hometown Baton Rouge, La.
  • High school Madison Prep Academy

2021 – Sophomore

  • Saw action in seven games and had two tackles (in the wins over Florida and New Mexico State)

2020 – Freshman

  • Mid-year enrollee
  • Played in nine games and had three tackles
  • Charted his first career tackle in the win over Tennessee

High School

  • Four-star recruit by all of the major recruiting services
  • Ranked as the No. 26 safety nationally by Rivals
  • Ability to play both sides of the ball, as he spent time at wide receiver in high school and totaled 988 receiving yards
  • Had five interceptions and helped lead the Chargers to an 13-2 record and an appearance in the 3A playoffs as a senior
  • Earned first-team All-State, All-Metro and All-District
  • Had 10 TD catches, 35 tackles, 13 pass break-ups and three interceptions as a junior
  • Three-year starter for coach Landry Williams
  • Ran the 4×100-meter, 4×200-meter and 4×400-meter relays, and competed in the high jump as a junior on the track and field team
  • Picked Kentucky over Alabama, Auburn, LSU, Florida, and Georgia

Community Cats

  • Volunteered at LexCity Church (2020)

Personal

  • Born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
  • Son of Tangi and Joseph Williams
  • Siblings are Italy Hayes, Avril Holmes, Megan Justine, Ariel Williams, Jeremy Williams, Joseph Williams Jr., and Joshua Williams
  • Dad, Joseph, was a tight end at Grambling State from 1983-86 and went on to play with the Pittsburgh Steelers for two seasons
  • Major is health promotion

Joel Says

  • His nickname is “Joe”
  • He chose Kentucky because it is the best school and the people care
  • One thing people may not know about him is that he never quits
  • When he played football as a kid, he pretended to be Troy Polamalu
  • The thing he looks forward to the most this season is taking over as a freshman
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