University of Tennessee Athletics
2023 Football Roster
Roster
Williams, Dee
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Jersey Number 3
Dee Williams
- Position:
- RS/WR
- Ht./Wt.:
- 5-11 / 194
- Class:
- Senior
- Hometown:
- Forsyth, Ga.
- High School:
- Mary Persons
- Prev School:
- East Central (Miss.) CC
Bio
CAREER HONORS
2024 Fourth Team All-America (Phil Steele)2023 SEC Community Service Team
SEC Special Teams Player of the Week (vs. Texas A&M, 10/14/23)
CAREER
An elusive, speedy return specialist who left his mark on the Tennessee record books in two seasons … Began his UT career at defensive back before shifting to wide receiver during the 2023 season … Also played on special teams coverage … Came to Rocky Top via East Central Mississippi Community College … Averaged a school-record 15.4 yards per punt return, breaking the previous mark held by Burt Rechichar (1949-51) … Returned 35 punts for 540 yards and two touchdowns … Averaged a stellar 21.1 yards per kickoff return (13 for 274) … Played in 22 career games.2023 – SENIOR
A fourth-team All-America return specialist as selected by Phil Steele … Played in all 13 games and was a dynamic presence every time he touched the ball on special teams … Returned 20 punts for 259 yards and one touchdown, which tied for the SEC lead … Ranked sixth in the FBS and third in the SEC in punt return average (14.0) ... Worked with the wide receivers in practice since Texas A&M game week ... Recorded his second-career reception and totaled 114 total return yards (74 kickoff, 40 punt) on Senior Day in win vs. Vanderbilt (11/25) ... Made one tackle on special teams in loss to No. 1 Georgia (11/18) ... Saw eight snaps of action on offense vs. UConn (11/4), making his first-career catch, an 11-yarder from Nico Iamaleava in the third quarter ... Also had two punt returns for 25 yards and a kickoff return for 23 yards against the Huskies ... Recorded his first tackle of the year on a kickoff return to end the first half at Kentucky (10/28) ... Was a difference maker on special teams in win vs. Texas A&M (10/14), downing a UT punt on the 1-yard line before returning the ensuing Aggies’ punt 39 yards for a touchdown to give the Vols a 14-10 lead in the third quarter ... Tabbed SEC Co-Special Teams Player of the Week for his efforts against the Aggies in one of the most electrifying plays of the season ... Returned three punts for 24 yards and had a 44- yard punt return for a touchdown wiped away by a penalty in win over South Carolina (9/30) ... Totaled 59 return yards (41 KR, 18 PR) in win over Austin Peay (9/9) ... Was electric in the return game in season-opening win vs. Virginia (9/2), averaging 35.0 yards on three punt returns with a long of 55 yards ... Also had one kickoff return for 34 yards in the victory over the Cavaliers.2022 – JUNIOR
One of the top punt return specialists in the country and a reserve cornerback … Played in nine games … Logged 281 yards on 15 punt returns with one touchdown and averaged an SEC-best 18.7 yards per return … Added five tackles and one forced fumble … Had a nine-yard punt return and a 17-yard kickoff return in the Orange Bowl victory over Clemson (12/30) … Broke off an electric, 73-yard punt return touchdown at Vanderbilt (11/26), finishing the game with three returns for 96 yards ... Was the first punt return TD by the Vols since Marquez Callaway’s 65-yarder vs. South Carolina on Oct. 26, 2019 … Posted his first career forced fumble in the regular season finale, knocking the ball loose on a Vanderbilt (11/26) fake punt in the third quarter ... Returned two punts against No. 19 Kentucky (10/29), including a 34-yard dash in the fourth quarter that set up a 13-yard touchdown pass on the next play ... Posted his first two tackles at the FBS level and returned four punts for 49 yards in the win over UT Martin (10/22) ... Returned a punt 12 yards and saw action on 13 defensive snaps in win over No. 3 Alabama (10/15) ... Made his Division I debut at No. 25 LSU (10/8) and provided an instant spark on special teams, returning his first punt as a Vol 58 yards to set up a field goal in the first quarter ... Missed the first four games of the season due to injury.JUNIOR COLLEGE (EAST CENTRAL (MISS.) CC)
One of the nation’s top junior college defensive backs by way of East Central Community College in Decatur, Mississippi … Enrolled in January 2022 and went through spring practice … Rated as the No. 3 cornerback and No. 8 overall junior college player by 247Sports.com … Collected seven interceptions and had 14 breakups in 2021 to earn NJCAA All-Region 23 accolades … Led the NJCAA in picks and ranked second in the nation in pass breakups as a third-year sophomore … Totaled 13 picks for his career at ECCC and made 103 tackles in 23 games played in his three seasons … Experienced in the return game, averaging 27.9 yards per kickoff return and 50.7 yards per punt return with a touchdown in each category … Returned a punt 87 yards for a touchdown in a game vs. Copiah-Lincoln on Oct. 14, 2021 … Named NJCAA Player of the Week for his performance in that contest … Chose Tennessee over 12 other Division I offers … Committed to the Vols in December 2021 … Coached by Ken Karcher at ECCC, who worked under the late Johnny Majors from 1993-96.HIGH SCHOOL
A two-way standout for Mary Persons High School his senior year … Had six interceptions, four returned for touchdowns, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a blocked field goal on the defensive side of the ball … Averaged 17.3 yards per reception as a senior, making 15 matches for 259 yards … Also lettered three years in basketball … Coached by Brian Nelson.PERSONAL
Full name is Desmond Zy’ion Williams … Goes by “Dee” … Born on Dec. 6, 1999, in Forsyth. … Son of Contrerrie Taylor and Larry Williams … Has two brothers, Cory and Shun, and two sisters, Keambria and Brieanna … Is the first person in his family to go to college … Favorite musical artist is Lil Baby … Favorite TV show is “Martin” … Earned his bachelor's degree in communication studies in December 2024 … Twitter handle is @Des_williams4 and Instagram handle is @desmondw4.FB | Cinematic Recap vs. ETSU (9.6.25)
Tuesday, September 09
FB | Kelsey Pope Press Conference (9.9.25)
Tuesday, September 09
FB | Arion Carter Media Availability (9.9.25)
Tuesday, September 09
FB | Sam Pendleton Media Availability (9.9.25)
Tuesday, September 09
