Williams Listed Among Nation’s Top Centers
July 19, 2019 | Football
by Brandon Langlois, Associate Director/Communications
STARKVILLE – Fresh off representing Mississippi State at SEC Media Days in Hoover, Alabama, Darryl Williams was named to the watch list for the Rimington Trophy on Friday.
The Rimington Trophy, named after former Nebraska center Dave Rimington, is presented annually to the most outstanding center in NCAA Division I College Football. Williams is one of 80 who made the list. The honor came just hours after he earned second-team preseason All-SEC honors Friday morning from media at SEC Media Days.
Since the Rimington Trophy's inception, the seventeen-year old award has raised over $4.2 million for the Boomer Esiason Foundation, which is committed to finding a cure for cystic fibrosis.
One of the top offensive linemen in the nation, Williams was named offensive team captain following the spring game and moved from left guard to center during spring drills to replace second-round draft pick and All-American Elgton Jenkins.
Williams allowed only one sack, three QB hits and five hurries for just nine total pressures in 2018, according to Pro Football Focus. The Bessemer, Alabama, native was the No. 5 overall graded guard in the SEC by PFF last season (71.1) and had the No. 5 best pass blocking grade (82.9).
Williams enters his senior season with 32 career games played, including 25 starts.
State opens preseason camp on Aug. 2 in preparation for the Aug. 31 season-opener against Louisiana in New Orleans. Tickets for the 2019 season and opener can be purchased at HailState.com/Tickets, by calling 1-888-GO-DAWGS or in person at the MSU Athletic Ticket Office on the first floor of the Bryan Athletic Administration Building (288 Lakeview Drive), Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
For more information on the Bulldogs, follow MSU football on Twitter, like them on Facebook and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateFB."
Mississippi State on 2019 Preseason Watch Lists
Maxwell Award
Kylin Hill, Jr., RB
Bednarik Award
Cameron Dantzler, Jr., CB
Erroll Thompson, Jr., LB
Doak Walker Award
Kylin Hill, Jr., RB
Rimington Trophy
Darryl Williams, Sr., C
John Mackey Award
Farrod Green, Sr., TE
2019 Rimington Trophy Preseason Watch List
STARKVILLE – Fresh off representing Mississippi State at SEC Media Days in Hoover, Alabama, Darryl Williams was named to the watch list for the Rimington Trophy on Friday.
The Rimington Trophy, named after former Nebraska center Dave Rimington, is presented annually to the most outstanding center in NCAA Division I College Football. Williams is one of 80 who made the list. The honor came just hours after he earned second-team preseason All-SEC honors Friday morning from media at SEC Media Days.
Since the Rimington Trophy's inception, the seventeen-year old award has raised over $4.2 million for the Boomer Esiason Foundation, which is committed to finding a cure for cystic fibrosis.
One of the top offensive linemen in the nation, Williams was named offensive team captain following the spring game and moved from left guard to center during spring drills to replace second-round draft pick and All-American Elgton Jenkins.
Williams allowed only one sack, three QB hits and five hurries for just nine total pressures in 2018, according to Pro Football Focus. The Bessemer, Alabama, native was the No. 5 overall graded guard in the SEC by PFF last season (71.1) and had the No. 5 best pass blocking grade (82.9).
Williams enters his senior season with 32 career games played, including 25 starts.
State opens preseason camp on Aug. 2 in preparation for the Aug. 31 season-opener against Louisiana in New Orleans. Tickets for the 2019 season and opener can be purchased at HailState.com/Tickets, by calling 1-888-GO-DAWGS or in person at the MSU Athletic Ticket Office on the first floor of the Bryan Athletic Administration Building (288 Lakeview Drive), Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
For more information on the Bulldogs, follow MSU football on Twitter, like them on Facebook and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateFB."
Mississippi State on 2019 Preseason Watch Lists
Maxwell Award
Kylin Hill, Jr., RB
Bednarik Award
Cameron Dantzler, Jr., CB
Erroll Thompson, Jr., LB
Doak Walker Award
Kylin Hill, Jr., RB
Rimington Trophy
Darryl Williams, Sr., C
John Mackey Award
Farrod Green, Sr., TE
2019 Rimington Trophy Preseason Watch List
| Conference | School | First Name | Last Name | Class Year |
| Am. Athl. | ||||
| Cincinnati | Jakari | Robinson | SO | |
| Memphis | Dustin | Woodward | SR | |
| Navy | Ford | Higgins | SR | |
| SMU | Hayden | Howerton | JR | |
| Temple | Matt | Hennessy | GRAD | |
| Tulane | Christian | Montano | GRAD | |
| UCF | Jordan | Johnson | SR | |
| ACC | ||||
| Boston College | Alec | Lindstrom | RS SO | |
| Clemson | Sean | Pollard | SR | |
| Duke | Jack | Wohlabaugh | RS JR | |
| Georgia Tech | Kenny | Cooper | SR | |
| Louisville | T.J. | McCoy | GRAD | |
| Pitt | Jimmy | Morrissey | JR | |
| Syracuse | Airon | Servais | RS JR | |
| Big Ten | ||||
| Illinois | Doug | Kramer | JR | |
| Indiana | Hunter | Littlejohn | SR | |
| Maryland | Johnny | Jordan | JR | |
| Michigan | Cesar | Ruiz | JR | |
| Michigan State | Matt | Allen | JR | |
| Northwestern | Jared Allen | Thomas | SR | |
| Penn State | Michal | Menet | RS JR | |
| Rutgers | Michael | Maietti | RS JR | |
| Wisconsin | Tyler | Biadasz | JR | |
| Big 12 | ||||
| Iowa State | Colin | Newell | SO | |
| Kansas State | Adam | Holtorf | SR | |
| Oklahoma | Creed | Humphrey | RS SO | |
| Oklahoma State | Johnny | Wilson | SR | |
| TCU | Kellton | Hollins | JR | |
| Texas | Zach | Shackelford | SR | |
| C-USA | ||||
| Charlotte | Jaelin | Fisher | RS JR | |
| FIU | Dallas | Connell | SR | |
| Florida Atlantic | Junior | Diaz | GRAD SR | |
| Louisiana Tech | Kody | Russey | RS JR | |
| Marshall | Levi | Brown | SR | |
| Middle Tennessee | Josh | Fannin | SR | |
| North Texas | Sosaia | Mose | RS SR | |
| Southern Miss | Trace | Clopton | SO | |
| UAB | Lee | Dufour | RS SR | |
| UTEP | Derron | Gatewood | RS SR | |
| WKU | Seth | Joest | RS JR | |
| INDP. | ||||
| Army West Point | Peyton | Reeder | JR | |
| BYU | James | Empey | RS SO | |
| Notre Dame | Jarrett | Patterson | SO | |
| MAC | ||||
| Ball State | Andrew | Poenitsch | RS SR | |
| Bowling Green | Jack | Kramer | SR | |
| Central Michigan | Steve | Eipper | SR | |
| Kent State | Nate | Warnock | SR | |
| Miami (OH) | Danny | Godlevske | RS JR | |
| Ohio | Steven | Hayes | RS SR | |
| Toledo | Bryce | Harris | SR | |
| Western Michigan | Luke | Jurgia | SR | |
| Mtn. West | ||||
| Boise State | Garrett | Larson | RS SR | |
| Hawaii | Kohl | Levao | SR | |
| New Mexico | Kyle | Stapley | JR | |
| San Diego State | Keith | Ismael | JR | |
| UNLV | Sid | Acosta | SR | |
| Pac-12 | ||||
| Arizona | Josh | McCauley | RS JR | |
| Arizona State | Cohl | Cabral | SR | |
| California | Michael | Saffell | JR | |
| Colorado | Tim | Lynott, Jr. | SR | |
| Oregon | Jake | Hanson | SR | |
| Stanford | Drew | Dalman | JR | |
| UCLA | Boss | Tagaloa | SR | |
| USC | Brett | Neilon | SO | |
| Washington | Nick | Harris | SR | |
| Washington State | Frederick | Mauigoa | SR | |
| SEC | ||||
| Auburn | Kaleb | Kim | SR | |
| Florida | Nick | Buchanan | RS SR | |
| Georgia | Trey | Hill | SO | |
| Kentucky | Drake | Jackson | JR | |
| LSU | Lloyd | Cushenberry, III | JR | |
| Mississippi State | Darryl | Williams | SR | |
| Mizzou | Trystan | Colon-Castillo | JR | |
| Tennessee | Brandon | Kennedy | RS SR | |
| Texas A&M | Ryan | McCollum | RS JR | |
| Sun Belt | ||||
| Appalachian State | Noah | Hannon | JR | |
| Arkansas State | Jacob | Still | JR | |
| Coastal Carolina | Trey | Carter | RS JR | |
| South Alabama | Brian | Ankerson | JR | |
Players Mentioned
CB
/ Football
TE
/ Football
RB
/ Football
OL
/ Football
LB
/ Football
OL
/ FootballFOOTBALL | 2026 Spring Practice Media Session - Fatt Forrest
Tuesday, April 07
FOOTBALL | 2026 Spring Practice Media Session - Jayson Jenkins
Tuesday, April 07
FOOTBALL | 2026 Spring Practice Media Session - Sanfrisco MaGee
Tuesday, April 07
FOOTBALL | 2026 Spring Practice Media Session - Jeff Lebby
Friday, April 03