(File photo)
It was a gut punch last week when it became public that Bo Davis, one of the most highly respected defensive line coaches in the country, was leaving LSU after one season to be the d-line coach with the Saints.
LSU conducted an extensive search to find Davis’s replacement. They spoke with Florida’s Gerald Chatman, who is a former analyst at LSU. They also spoke with Ole Miss’s Randall Joyner and Missouri’s Al Davis.
Chatman and Joyner were too expensive because of their buyouts, and I’m not sure why it didn’t work with Davis, who appeared to be the guy.
After talking with several options, LSU landed on Williams, who the Tigers reportedly spoke with Wednesday and he took the job Thursday.
Williams was on the 2003 national championship team. His best season at LSU came in 2005 when he was named a second-team All-American and first-team All-SEC performer.
The Ruston native appeared in 46 games for the LSU, started 33 at defensive tackle, with 16.5 quarterback sacks, 26 tackles for a loss and 140 tackles.
Because Williams was six-foot-one, 298 pounds, he was not considered a big time NFL prospect.
The Buffalo Bills took a chance on him and selected Williams in the fifth round. He went on to play 13 seasons in Buffalo, becoming a fan favorite and playing in six Pro Bowls and recording 48.5 sacks. His last game was in the 2019 Pro Bowl game.
After his lengthy NFL career, Williams took a year off from football and in 2020 he was hired as the defensive coordinator at his alma mater.
He helped the Bearcats reach the state championship game three years in a row. Ruston won the division one non-select state championship in 2023 and he coached current LSU Tigers Ahmad Breaux and Aidan Anding.
In January, Williams stepped down as DC at Ruston High. The Lincoln Parish Journal reported at the time Williams was not planning to leave the Ruston area. He and his wife have five children, with daughters who love playing soccer.
The plans changed, and Williams is expected to be coaching at LSU when the Tigers kick-off spring practice on Saturday.
It’s a hire LSU fans love. He was a hard-nosed player, a technician at defensive tackle and someone who is passionate and knowledgeable about football.
Williams had offers to coach in the NFL, but he couldn’t turn down his alma mater when they called.
He has a big job ahead as LSU continues to work on restoring its defense to respectability.
It should help that the man coaching the defensive line has been successful in every facet of football, from playing to coaching.
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