Former Vanderbilt star and NFL defensive back/kick returner Jimmy Williams died Friday after an unspecified illness. He was 43.
Williams was named an SEC Football Legend in 2013. He played running back, cornerback, and returned kickoffs and punts for the Commodores from 1997–2000.
Williams is one of three players in Vanderbilt history with both a kickoff return and punt return touchdown during their careers.
Current Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea said he hosted Williams and his family at his home on Wednesday.
“Jimmy will be remembered for the energy and spirit with which he filled a room, the love and devotion he showed to his beautiful family and the choices he made every day to live fully in the face of the most challenging adversity life has to offer,” Lea wrote in a letter posted to his Twitter account….