Inside the Loud House
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Syracuse Football: Best non-first round SU picks in NFL Draft history

By Paul A. Esden Jr.

23 Jan 1994: Running back Daryl Johnston of the Dallas Cowboys (right) gets tackled by San Francisco 49ers defensive back Don Griffin during a playoff game at Texas Stadium in Irving, Texas. The Cowboys won the game, 38-21. Mandatory Credit: Mike Powell
23 Jan 1994: Running back Daryl Johnston of the Dallas Cowboys (right) gets tackled by San Francisco 49ers defensive back Don Griffin during a playoff game at Texas Stadium in Irving, Texas. The Cowboys won the game, 38-21. Mandatory Credit: Mike Powell /
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48. . . . Mike Williams. 8. team

  • Fourth round pick (101st overall) in the 2010 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
  • Played for Syracuse from 2006 through 2009.

This is going to be a polarizing pick, so let’s address that right up front. The one thing you can’t question is Mike Williams’ talent level. He’s a born and bred Buffalo native and decided to stay local by attending Syracuse University.

As soon as he stepped on campus, SU fans knew they had something special. As a true freshman he led the team in receiving yards, as a sophomore he became an All Big-East selection, but that’s where things went awry.

Williams was suspended that summer for the 2008 season due to academic reasons. SU got him back for 2009 and there was even more trouble and Williams just straight quit the team after his involvement in a car accident with teammates and if he didn’t quit he would’ve been suspended for violating team policy.

Despite all the hoopla, he still got drafted in the fourth round by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After his first couple of years in the league, it seemed like Williams was going to be the next big thing. So much so that he signed a massive $40 million extension with Tampa. But his old demons caught up to him and he was asking for trades left and right and fizzled out. He hasn’t been in the league since 2014.

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