Darrent Williams
Position(s): Cornerback	Jersey #: N/A
Date of birth: September 27, 1982(1982-09-27)
Place of birth: Fort Worth, Texas
Date of death: January 1, 2007 (aged 24)
Place of death: Denver, Colorado
Height: 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Weight: 188 lb (85 kg)
Career information
NFL Draft: 2005 / Round: 2 / Pick 56
College: Oklahoma State
Teams
2005–2006	Denver Broncos
Stats at NFL.com

Darrent Williams (September 27, 1982 – January 1, 2007), was an American football player for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League. Williams was also the owner and CEO of independent record label RYNO Entertainment in Fort Worth, Texas. A diagram showing typical football positions In American football, each team has 11 players on the field at one time. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... is the 270th day of the year (271st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar). ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Nickname: Motto: Where the West Begins Location of Fort Worth in Tarrant County, Texas Coordinates: , Country State Counties Tarrant and Denton Government  - Mayor Michael J. Moncrief Area  - City  298. ... is the 1st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Nickname: Location of Denver in Colorado Location of Colorado in the United States Coordinates: , Country State Founded [1] November 22, 1858 Incorporated November 7, 1861 Government  - Type Strong Mayor/Weak Council  - Mayor John Hickenlooper (D) Area [1]  - City & County  154. ... The NFL Draft (officially the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting[1]) is an annual sports draft in which National Football League (NFL) teams take turns, through seven rounds[2], selecting amateur college American football players and other first-time eligible players. ... The 2005 National Football League Draft , took place on April 23 and April 24, 2005[1] at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City, New York. ... This is a list of athletic conferences of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). ... Oklahoma State Cowboys (Cowgirls for womens teams) are the athletic teams that represent Oklahoma State University. ... City Denver, Colorado Other nicknames Orange Crush (1977-1979 defense) Team colors Orange, Broncos Navy Blue, and White[1] Head Coach Mike Shanahan Owner Pat Bowlen General manager Ted Sundquist Mascot Miles League/Conference affiliations American Football League (1960-1969) Western Division (1960-1969) National Football League (1970–present) American... is the 270th day of the year (271st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 1st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... United States simply as football, is a competitive team sport that is both fast-paced and strategic. ... City Denver, Colorado Other nicknames Orange Crush (1977-1979 defense) Team colors Orange, Broncos Navy Blue, and White[1] Head Coach Mike Shanahan Owner Pat Bowlen General manager Ted Sundquist Mascot Miles League/Conference affiliations American Football League (1960-1969) Western Division (1960-1969) National Football League (1970–present) American... NFL redirects here. ... Nickname: Motto: Where the West Begins Location of Fort Worth in Tarrant County, Texas Coordinates: , Country State Counties Tarrant and Denton Government  - Mayor Michael J. Moncrief Area  - City  298. ... For other uses, see Texas (disambiguation). ...

High school

Born and raised in Fort Worth, Williams attended O.D. Wyatt High School where he played cornerback and was also a punt returner. As a senior, he was named 7-4A Defensive Most Valuable Player after posting five interceptions that featured several long returns, including a best of 54 yards. As a punt returner, Williams averaged 30 yards per return with four touchdowns. Fort Worth is the sixth-largest city in the state of Texas, located about 30 miles west of Dallas on the West Fork Trinity River and forming part of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. ... Fort Worth Independent School District is a school district based in Fort Worth, Texas, United States. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Twelfth grade (called Grade 12 in some regions, also known as senior year in the U.S.) is the final year of secondary education in the United States and many other nations. ... An interception or intercept is a move in many forms of football, including Canadian and American football football, as well as rugby league, rugby union, Australian rules football and Gaelic football, and involves a pass (either by foot or hand) being cut off by an opposition player who usually gains... Texas Longhorn quarterback Vince Young (center top of picture), now with the Tennessee Titans, rushing for a touchdown vs. ...

Williams received little recruiting attention during high school, receiving offers only from Texas Christian University, Louisiana Tech University, and Oklahoma State University. Reportedly, he was the last player signed to the 2001 class, and was only signed after an OSU coach's wife urged her husband to evaluate his talent further, as she was his school counselor.^{[citation needed]} This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Louisiana Tech University, located in Ruston, Louisiana is a coeducational public institution of higher learning with an approximate enrollment of 12,000 students. ... Oklahoma State University Logo The Oklahoma State University System comprises of five educational instututes across Oklahoma. ...

College

Williams then went on to play football for Oklahoma State University. He played ten games his first year, the second half of the season as the starter. As a note of interest, during his freshman year, he returned two interceptions for touchdowns against Baylor. In the postgame press-conference, it was revealed that he had actually predicted he would do this, in a statement to then head coach Les Miles. As a sophomore, Williams started all of the team's thirteen games recording 53 tackles and three interceptions, while breaking up thirteen passes. Oklahoma State University–Stillwater, located in Stillwater, Oklahoma, is an institution of higher learning founded in 1890 as a land-grant university under the Morrill Act. ... Baylor University is an independent Baptist institution of higher learning located in Waco, Texas and is the oldest university in Texas. ... Les Miles (born November 10, 1953 in Elyria, Ohio) is an American college football coach and the current head coach of the LSU Tigers. ...

During his junior year, Williams continued to start for the Cowboys. He posted 66 tackles and six interceptions (third in the Big 12 Conference). He also broke up 17 passes. His performance junior year earned him first team All-Big 12 Conference honors. The Big 12 Conference is a college athletic conference of twelve schools located in the central United States. ...

His last year at Oklahoma State, Williams played in only seven games. He missed the last three because of injury, and was limited before that because of an arm injury. Still, Williams totaled 21 tackles (18 solo), three pass breakups, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery, which he returned 53 yards. Williams finished his collegiate career tied for first place all-time in Division I-A College Football in career interception returns for touchdowns. He had 11 career interceptions and scored 9 touchdowns on returns (5 interception returns, 3 punt returns, and 1 blocked extra point return).

NFL

In the 2005 NFL Draft, Williams was selected by the Denver Broncos in the second round (56th overall). He recorded his first career interception on November 13, 2005 versus the Oakland Raiders. The Raiders were driving to score, when quarterback Kerry Collins attempted a pass to wide receiver Jerry Porter. Williams jumped the route, intercepted the ball, and took it 82 yards for the touchdown. The Broncos won the game 31-17. Although an injury kept him out of the Broncos' lineup for the last three games of the 2005 regular season he established himself as the Broncos' starting cornerback, recording 58 tackles and two interceptions. Williams' nine starts at cornerback in 2005 were the most for a Broncos rookie at that position since Louis Wright started 11 games in 1975. He also led the Broncos in punt and kick returns. Williams was recognized as a first-team All Rookie selection by Pro Football Weekly and the Pro Football Writers Association.^[1] The 2005 National Football League Draft , took place on April 23 and April 24, 2005[1] at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City, New York. ... City Denver, Colorado Other nicknames Orange Crush (1977-1979 defense) Team colors Orange, Broncos Navy Blue, and White[1] Head Coach Mike Shanahan Owner Pat Bowlen General manager Ted Sundquist Mascot Miles League/Conference affiliations American Football League (1960-1969) Western Division (1960-1969) National Football League (1970–present) American... is the 317th day of the year (318th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The 2005 National Football League regular season began on Thursday, September 8, 2005 and ended on Sunday, January 1, 2006, New Years Day. ... City Oakland, California Other nicknames The Silver and Black Team colors Silver and Black Head Coach Lane Kiffin Owner Al Davis General manager Al Davis League/Conference affiliations American Football League (1960–1969) Western Division (1960–1969) National Football League (1970–present) American Football Conference (1970–present) AFC West (1970... Kerry Michael Collins (born December 30, 1972 in Lebanon, Pennsylvania) is an American football quarterback for the Tennessee Titans of the NFL. He has played for the Oakland Raiders, New York Giants, New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers, playing in Super Bowl XXXV for New York. ... Jerry Porter (born July 14, 1978 in Washington, D.C.) is an American professional football player. ... Louis Donnel Wright (born January 31, 1953 in Gilmer, Texas) is a former American Football cornerback who played his entire NFL career for the Denver Broncos for 12 seasons from 1975 to 1986. ... Pro Football Weekly (sometimes shortened to PFW) is a popular American sports magazine, founded in 1967, that covers the National Football League. ... Technically known as the Pro Football Writers of America, this organization purports to be The official voice of pro football writers, promoting and fighting for access to NFL personnel to best serve the public. ...

In the 2006 season, Williams played in 15 games, recording 86 tackles (77 solo) and four interceptions (returning one for a touchdown), as well as serving as the team's primary punt returner. In his career he had 1 sack, 2 forced fumbles, 6 ints and 2 touchdowns.^[1]

His last game was a season-ending loss to the San Francisco 49ers. In that game Williams had three tackles and returned two punts for 50 yards before leaving the game with a shoulder injury late in the second half.^[2] In a spooky coincidence, following the previous meeting between the Broncos and 49ers (in a preseason game on August 20th, 2005), 49ers offensive lineman Thomas Herrion died of lschaemic heart disease.^[3] City San Francisco, California Other nicknames Niners, The Red And Gold, Bay Bombers Team colors Cardinal red, metallic gold and black Head Coach Mike Nolan Owner Denise DeBartolo York and John York General manager Lal Heneghan Mascot Sourdough Sam League/Conference affiliations All-America Football Conference (1946-1949) Western Division... August 20 is the 232nd day of the year (233rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Thomas Herrion Thomas Herrion (December 15, 1981 – August 20, 2005) was an American football player for the San Francisco 49ers. ...

Death

On January 1, 2007, Williams was shot during a drive-by shooting, at approximately 2:10 a.m. Williams and two other passengers were shot when another vehicle pulled beside his rented Hummer H2 limousine in downtown Denver, Colorado. The shooting occurred near 11th Ave. and Speer Boulevard. It occurred less than 12 hours after the Broncos played their final game of the 2006 season.^[4] is the 1st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... A drive-by shooting (or drive-by for short) is a personal attack carried out by someone from a moving or momentarily stopped vehicle. ... The H2 SUV/SUT/Hydrogen is the second vehicle sold under the Hummer marque of General Motors. ... Nickname: Location of Denver in Colorado Location of Colorado in the United States Coordinates: , Country State Founded [1] November 22, 1858 Incorporated November 7, 1861 Government  - Type Strong Mayor/Weak Council  - Mayor John Hickenlooper (D) Area [1]  - City & County  154. ...

Williams had been attending a New Year's Eve party and birthday party for Denver Nuggets player Kenyon Martin at a nightclub, "The Shelter." The Denver Police Department reported that the shooting was preceded by some type of altercation or argument at the nightclub; a spokesman stated that "There was some confrontation between a group of people in the vehicle and a group at the nightclub.".^[2][5] Williams was not involved in the altercation. For the original defunct Denver Nuggets, see Denver Nuggets (original). ... Kenyon Lee Martin (born December 30, 1977 in Saginaw, Michigan), is an American professional basketball player. ... The Denver Police Department is the full service police department jointly for the City and County of Denver, Colorado, which provides the full spectrum of police services to the entire county, and may provide contractual security police services to special districts within the county. ...

About to text message his mother, Williams sustained a single gunshot wound to the neck and was killed instantly, according to Robert Whitmore, chief medical examiner in the county coroner's office.^[6] After Williams was shot, he fell in the lap of fellow Broncos teammate, Javon Walker. He was pronounced dead around 2:30 a.m. The two other passengers injured in the shooting, Brandon Flowers and Nicole Reindl, were both released from the hospital the day after the shooting.^[7] Javon Lataff Walker (born October 14, 1978 in Galveston, Texas) is an American football wide receiver who currently plays for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League. ...

Aftermath

The Denver police have impounded a vehicle in connection with the shooting. The suspected vehicle is registered to Brian Hicks, a 28 year old Crips gang member, who was already incarcerated awaiting trial for attempted murder and drug charges. Other associates of Hicks are being questioned as potential material witnesses to the Williams shooting. Rumors persist that it was a gang related event, however there is no real evidence about this and is actually highly unlikely according to family and teammates. The blue bandanas worn by most Crip gangs. ...

Williams is survived by his 7-year-old son, a 4-year-old daughter and his 24-year-old girlfriend who live in Fort Worth, Texas. A memorial fund has been set up in their name. Denver Nuggets stars Carmelo Anthony and Kenyon Martin, who were with Williams at the nightclub that evening, possibly plan to honor their friend by setting up a college fund for Williams' children. ^[1] Meanwhile, a fan constructed memorial has formed on the southern wall of the fountain in front of Invesco Field at Mile High. Javon Walker has also decided to wear his hair in a "fro-hawk", in honor of Williams, who wore his hair in a similar way as a trademark. Nickname: Motto: Where the West Begins Location of Fort Worth in Tarrant County, Texas Coordinates: , Country State Counties Tarrant and Denton Government  - Mayor Michael J. Moncrief Area  - City  298. ... Carmelo Anthony (born May 29, 1984 in the Red Hook Projects of Brooklyn, New York)[1] is an American professional basketball player at the small forward position for the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association and the USA National Team. ... Kenyon Lee Martin (born December 30, 1977 in Saginaw, Michigan), is an American professional basketball player. ... INVESCO Field at Mile High is a stadium in Denver, Colorado. ... Javon Lataff Walker (born October 14, 1978 in Galveston, Texas) is an American football wide receiver who currently plays for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League. ...

Another fund, specifically to pay for a gravestone and mourning bench, was established by Denver Post columnist Woody Paige in August, 2007. Because Williams' assets were tied up in probate after his death, his survivors had been unable to afford a grave marker. Despite financial assistance from the team management to his survivors, Williams' home had gone into foreclosure.^[8] The Denver Post is a daily newspaper published in Denver, Colorado. ... The tone or style of this article or section may not be appropriate for Wikipedia. ...

References

The Associated Press, or AP, is an American news agency, the worlds largest such organization. ... The Sports Network (commonly known as TSN) is a Canadian cable television specialty channel and is Canadas leading English language sports television channel. ... is the 1st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... The Denver Post is a daily newspaper and online website published in Denver, Colorado. ... is the 1st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... The Associated Press, or AP, is an American news agency, the worlds largest such organization. ... is the 3rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... The Denver Post is a daily newspaper and online website published in Denver, Colorado. ... is the 3rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ...

External links

• Official Website
• Broncos profile
• NFL.com profile
• The Darrent Williams Drive
• Sports E-Cyclopedia's Memorium to Darrent Williams