Roy Williams ( safety ) Roy Lee Williams ( born August 14 , 1980 ) is a former American college and professional football player who was a safety in the National Football League ( NFL ) for nine seasons . He played college football for the University of Oklahoma , and was an All - American . He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys eighth overall in the 2002 NFL Draft , and played professionally for the Cowboys and Cincinnati Bengals . He earned five straight Pro Bowl selections from 2003 to 2007 . Williams is currently a sideline reporter for Oklahoma football games . Early years . Williams was born in Redwood City , California . He graduated from James Logan High School in Union City , California , where he played quarterback , wide receiver and defensive back for the Logan Colts high school football . College career . Williams attended the University of Oklahoma , and played for coach Bob Stoops ' Oklahoma Sooners football team from 1999 to 2001 . He was a starter on the undefeated 2000 Oklahoma Sooners team that won the BCS National Championship , setting a school record for tackles for a loss by a defensive back with 12 . In 2001 , his junior season at Oklahoma , he won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy as the nation ' s top overall defensive player and also won the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation ' s top defensive back , while leading the team to a 10 - 2 record and a win over the Arkansas Razorbacks in the Cotton Bowl Classic . He was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and a first - team Big 12 selection , and recognized as a unanimous All - American . Williams decided to forgo his final year of eligibility to enter the NFL draft . Nicknamed " Superman " while at Oklahoma , Williams is remembered at OU for his actions in the 2001 Red River Shootout . The Sooners led 7 – 3 with only minutes remaining as the Longhorns offense took the field , hoping to execute a game - winning drive . With Texas forced to begin their drive inside their own 5 - yard line , the Sooners prepared to pressure UT quarterback Chris Simms . Williams timed the snap perfectly . Simms barely had time to pull back from center when Williams came flying in from the blindside — " over the top " of a Longhorn running back who barely had time to rise out of his stance . The jarring and unexpected hit knocked the ball loose and into the hands of linebacker Teddy Lehman , who stepped into the endzone for a touchdown and sealed the game for Oklahoma . This play has been immortalized on a mural plaque at the Roy Williams Strength and Speed Complex at the University of Oklahoma . The complex is named for Williams both for his athletic achievements and for his donation of approximately $ 100 , 000 towards its construction . Professional career . Dallas Cowboys . Williams was selected by the Dallas Cowboys with the eighth overall pick of the 2002 NFL Draft after a trade with the Kansas City Chiefs . He was known throughout the league for his hard hitting and his tackling skills during running plays . With the arrival of Ken Hamlin from Seattle , Williams had the luxury to move closer to the line of scrimmage to blitz and cover short passes during nickel or dime situations . As a rookie in 2002 , he was moved to free safety in order to play alongside strong safety Darren Woodson . However , the Cowboys defensive scheme that year allowed both players to interchange positions as to allow confusion for the opposing offenses . Williams was also runner - up for Defensive Rookie of the Year . In 2003 , Williams with the mentoring of Woodson , enjoyed a stellar season and his first trip to the Pro Bowl as he was part of the Cowboys ' number one ranked defense and helped lead the team to its first playoff game since 1999 . In 2004 , Woodson suffered a herniated disc in training camp and was forced to sit on the sidelines . Williams struggles were more apparent as he was forced to play more coverage due to the inexperience and inconsistency of the Dallas cornerback position . After the season , the horse - collar tackle was banned . This action is now referred to as the " Roy Williams Rule " , as the rule was introduced the 2004 season , during which Williams used the technique on plays that resulted in three significant injuries . Williams is occasionally referred to by fans as " Biscuit " , in reference to a statement in a 2004 press conference by former head coach Bill Parcells who , noting Williams ' weight , said that he was " a biscuit short of a linebacker " . With the right cornerback position stabilized by the free agent signing of Anthony Henry in 2005 , Williams was once again able to play to his best strength by roaming closer to the line of scrimmage . At the end of the 2005 NFL regular season , Williams had 2 . 5 sacks and three interception s . He earned his third Pro Bowl berth in 2005 and remained a dominant force for the Dallas defense . In early August 2006 the Dallas Cowboys signed Williams to a four - year contract extension worth $ 25 . 2 million to keep him with the team through the 2010 season . On December 17 , 2007 , Williams was issued a one - game suspension without pay from Commissioner Roger Goodell . He received it for a repeat offense violating the league ' s horse - collar tackle rule . During the season , Cowboys teammates Terrell Owens and Patrick Crayton criticized him for his continued use of the horse - collar tackle . After the 2007 season , Williams was named to the Pro Bowl on January 3 , 2008 for the fifth straight time , this time as a replacement for the late Sean Taylor ( who played for the Cowboys ' heated rivals , the Washington Redskins ) . Williams announced that he will be wearing No . 38 at the start of the 2008 season because that was the number he wore in college and also " 8 " in the Bible signifies a new beginning . Teammate Greg Ellis when speaking on Sirius NFL Radio said that Williams told him he felt like he did not fit in head coach Wade Phillips ' defensive scheme . Ellis also said that he ' s bothered by the way Williams has been isolating himself from other Cowboys , and Williams " just doesn ' t fit what ' s going on here in Dallas right now . " The Cowboys hired new DBs coach Dave Campo . The team hoped this would help Williams create more turnovers , after Williams failed to achieve any sacks or forced fumbles since 2005 . Williams broke his forearm in the 2nd game of the year against Philadelphia Eagles . He missed four games , then on his first game back against the St . Louis Rams , he refractured the same forearm and was forced to miss the entire season on injured reserve . On October 14 , 2008 , the Cowboys acquired wide receiver Roy E . Williams from the Detroit Lions , making the two Pro Bowl players with identical names teammates . On March 5 , 2009 , the Cowboys released Williams , per his request . Cincinnati Bengals . Williams signed with the Cincinnati Bengals on May 6 , 2009 . He was placed on season - ending injured reserve on November 13 , 2009 due to a forearm fracture after recording 28 tackles . On March 13 , 2010 , Williams signed a one - year contract to stay with the Bengals . He recorded 59 tackles , a sack , and an interception of Ben Roethlisberger that year . Retirement . On August 24 , 2011 , Williams announced his retirement , taking a job as a sideline reporter for Oklahoma Sooners football games . He also appeared on the television show " " on A & E . He joined the cast in season 1 , episode 10 . He did not return for the second season of the show . Personal life . In July 2004 , Williams started the Roy Williams Safety Net Foundation which was inspired by his sister Alecia , a single mother raising a young son . The Foundation ' s purpose is to help ensure low - income single mothers receive support , guidance , and assistance to enhance their quality of life . Briefly engaged to Kelly Rowland in 2005 . Roy Williams appeared on the TV - show in 2012 as Roy Williams " The Player " . He was a part of the cast for the first season , he did not however return for the second season .