Wide receiver Reggie Williams is one of the highest-rated recruits to ever play for the Washington Huskies, coming in at No. 2 according to 247Sports behind linebacker Shaq Thompson. He saw nothing but success during his time on Montlake before he was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars at No. 9 overall in the 2004 NFL draft, making him the highest-drafted Husky at wide receiver in program history.
Williams was born in West Germany into a military family. They eventually moved to Lakewood, Washington, where he would attend Lakes High School and lead his team to a state championship during his senior year, where he was named the AP’s Washington State Player of the Year.
During that final season, he caught 45 passes for 811 yards and 16 touchdowns, and took 34 carries for an additional 512 yards and 7 scores. He also played safety, where he grabbed 5 interceptions during his junior year and another 7 as a senior.
He also displayed his athleticism on the track in high school, where he ran a 10.76 100-meter dash to win the 3A state championship. His 6-foot-4, 210-pound frame gave him such impressive size and athleticism that it had many scouts wondering if he might switch to defense at the college level.
His recruitment rivaled that of a top NFL draft prospect, where he had an impressive list of schools courting him, including Washington, Florida State, UCLA and Michigan. There even was a late push by the newly hired Pete Carroll and the USC Trojans to get in the mix. Eventually, coach Rick Neuheisel’s tenacity and a helicopter ride to pick up Williams to bring him to campus for a visit won the high school standout over.
During his time on Montlake, to say his numbers were impressive would be an understatement. From 2001 – 2003, he set every receiving record at Washington. He totaled 16 100-yard games and three 1,000 yard seasons, the first of which made him the only freshman in school history to record 1,000 receiving yards in a year.
By his sophomore season, he was voted an All American before he declared for the 2004 NFL draft after his junior year.
His rookie season with the Jaguars was underwhelming and not up to the standard he had set for himself during his time at Washington. He impressed during the first half of his second season with the team, but after a concussion, he struggled to get back on track.
He broke out during his third season and was considered one of the top receivers in the NFL until Jacksonville quarterback Byron Leftwich suffered a season-ending injury, limiting Williams’ production.
He spent the 2009 season out of the league before signing with the Seattle Seahawks, where it seemed as if Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll had finally got his man. But he never saw the field, as Williams was released by the team in June, prior to the start of training camp.
He spent one year in the UFL and another in the CFL before hanging up his cleats. Now, Williams resides in San Antonio, Texas with his wife and three children.