Jason Williams ( American football ) Jason X . Williams ( born April 23 , 1986 ) is an American football linebacker who plays for the Carolina Panthers . He was drafted by the Cowboys in the third round of the 2009 NFL Draft . He played college football at Western Illinois . Williams ended his career at Western Illinois by setting a FCS record and tied the NCAA all - division record of 14 career forced fumbles , while at Western Illinois . High school career . Williams was born in Chicago , Illinois and attended DuSable High School , where he helped lead his team to an undefeated record in the Chicago Public League ’ s Intra - City Central Conference . He rushed for 2 , 988 yards , threw for 3 , 015 and recorded 71 total touchdown s ( 35 rushing and 36 passing ) in his career and was a two - time All - City and All - Section selection . College career . Williams then attended Western Illinois University where he majored in Exercise science and was a member of Delta Upsilon Fraternity . As a true freshman in 2004 he redshirt . In 2005 , he played in 10 of 11 games and recorded 23 tackles ( 14 solo ) . He also started the final two games of the season at strong safety . As a sophomore in 2006 , he started all 11 games at linebacker , the only one to do so that season . He recorded 92 tackles , three sacks , three forced fumble s , one interception . He also earned All - Gateway Conference honorable mention and earned the team ’ s Green Beret award for his significant contributions to the kicking game . As a junior in 2007 , Williams recorded 107 tackles , eight sacks and five forced fumbles , all of which led the Gateway Conference . The five forced fumbles tied a school record , while ranking fifth in the nation . He was also named to the AFCA All - America Team , the Associated Press All - America Second - team and The Sports Network All - America Second - team , as well as being a First - team All - Gateway selection , while ranking among the nation ’ s top 50 defensive players in tackles for loss , total tackles and sacks . He was also a runner - up for the Gateway Defensive Player of the Year Award . He was also named the team ’ s defensive MVP at the teams annual awards banquet . As a senior in 2008 , Williams was named to " Lindy ' s " pre - season All - America First - team and the Consensus Draft Services All - America Second - team . He was also one of three linebacks named to " The Sporting News " ' pre - season FCS All - America team . He was also named to Phil Steele ' s pre - season All - America First - team . For the season , Williams recorded 67 tackles ( 39 solo ) , 14 . 5 tackles - for - losses and led the nation with a school - record six forced fumbles . He finished fourth in the Buck Buchanan award voting . He was also named to the Associated Press All - America First - team , the Sports Network All - America First - team and the " College Sporting News " All - Ameerica team . He also became the first player in school history to earn repeated AFCA All - America honors , he was also named the team ' s Defensive MVP and played in the East - West Shrine Game . Williams ended his career by setting a FCS record and tied the NCAA all - division record of 14 career forced fumbles . While at Western Illinois , he recorded a career total of 289 tackles , 15 . 0 sacks , 45 tackles - for - loss , 14 forced fumbles , two fumble recoveries , 12 pass breakups , one interception and a blocked kick while starting 35 - of - 43 games . Professional career . Pre - draft . Williams was not invited to participate at the 2009 NFL Scouting Combine , however he did take part in Northwestern University ' s Pro Day . Dallas Cowboys . The Dallas Cowboys started the 2009 NFL Draft without a first round draft choice ( part of the price to acquire Roy Williams ) and then traded out of the second round , after they couldn ' t draft center Max Unger . After posting great pre - draft numbers , the Cowboys surprised observers by selecting Williams in the third round ( 69th overall ) . He was inactive for 11 games ( 3 with a sprained left ankle ) and played in only five , recording two special teams tackles . In 2010 during a 1 - 7 start , the Cowboys declared him inactive for two games because of poor play , before releasing him on November 2 , based on his inability to grasp the defense and a lack of consistency on special teams . Carolina Panthers ( first stint ) . Williams was claimed off waivers on November 3 by the Carolina Panthers and recorded 5 tackles , a fumble recovery and two passes defensed in two games as a starter at weak - side linebacker , before being placed on the injured reserve on December 13 with a torn ACL . In 2011 he played in 14 games ( 2 games inactive ) , he led the team with 15 special teams tackles and started 2 games at weakside linebacker . He was released during final cuts in August 2012 . Philadelphia Eagles . He was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles on October 9 , 2012 and was released on November 3 , after playing in 2 games . Carolina Panthers ( second stint ) . Williams was claimed off waiver on November 5 , 2012 , he played in 5 games ( 3 games inactive ) , recorded 15 special teams tackles . He was released before the start of the 2013 season . On October 16 , 2013 the Panthers resigned him to take over Chase Blackburn ' s special teams duties , after he was named the starter at weakside linebacker . He blocked a punt against the New York Jets .