The Buffalo Bills have a new running back. It’s Daryl Williams, and he just signed a 3 year deal worth $12 million. The 23-year old from Western Michigan is expected to be the starter in week 1 of the regular season against New York. Daryl has been one of the most dominant runners in college football over the past few seasons. In his final two seasons at Western Michigan, he rushed for an astonishing 11,906 yards and 133 touchdowns. He also caught 55 passes for 830 yards and 4 touchdowns while returning a kickoff for a touchdown against Oklahoma State in 2017.
Introducing Daryl Williams the Buffalo Bills
Now that the Bills are assured of having a highly productive running back for the foreseeable future, we thought it would be an opportune time to introduce you to Williams and what brought him to the Bills in the first place. It’s a very unique and interesting journey, and not a journey you would expect for a 5’9″ 198 pound running back.
Life Begins For Daryl After Death of His Mother
See more: The Best Buffalo Bills Sweatpants For You to Wear This Fall
Daryl, born and raised in Texas, went on to play football at Boyd County High School. His senior year in 2014, Daryl’s mother died of cancer. Not long after the passing of his mother, Daryl experienced a severe growth spurt, and his weight ballooned to over 250 pounds. The weight gain resulted in a bulging disc in his back, and it eventually had a life-threatening effect on his health.
A behind-the-scenes look at Daryl’s journey to the NFL
No. 69 is a two-time winner of the Paul Hornung Award, given to the most versatile player in college football. He was also a consensus All-American in 2017 and a semifinalist for the Doak Walker Award. In his time with the Broncos, Daryl accounted for 28 touchdowns and won the MAC Offensive Player of the Year three years in a row.
See more: The best Buffalo Bills leather jacket for men trend 2021
While at Western Michigan, Daryl was roommates with Jason McCourty. The 10-year NFL veteran is a former roommate of Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott. McCourty now calls Buffalo his second home, since his wife is a graduate of Buffalo’s nearby Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
When the Bills drafted McCourty in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft, it marked the first time in his life that he had family nearby.
A Look Ahead on Daryl Williams’ NFL Career
Daryl has spent the past two years playing for the Carolina Panthers after going undrafted in 2016. While he struggled a bit as a rookie, he finally earned a starting position last season after the Panthers lost starting guard Andrew Norwell to the Jacksonville Jaguars. He did this by developing a unique ability to successfully pass block and blitz off the edge while also making a living as a power runner.
See more: New Buffalo Bills Bomber Jacket: The Best Gift For A True Fan
Daryl won’t be the starting running back by default, however. The Panthers traded McCaffrey to the San Francisco 49ers for a second-round pick, which means they will get a good running back. Veteran back C.J. Anderson will be the starting running back, and the first two weeks will be about figuring out how he fits with the team.
