Williams Takes Raiders' Job

By David Sandhop

Aggie Websider Publisher
Posted Feb 14, 2012

The lone holdover from Mike Sherman's 2011 coaching staff has left Kevin Sumlin's new staff to take a position in the NFL. Defensive line coach Terrell Williams has accepted an offer to join Oakland head coach Dennis Allen's staff in a similar capacity.

Multiple sources are reporting that Texas A&M defensive line coach Terrell Williams has taken a similar position with the NFL's Oakland Raiders. Williams was hired by new Oakland head coach and former Texas A&M player and coach Dennis Allen. The Los Angeles native was the lone holdover from Mike Sherman's 2011 coaching staff and he was instrumental in keeping together a highly-touted recruiting class during the transition period in December. In his two seasons at Texas A&M, the Aggies have advanced to a pair of bowl games, including last season's win over Northwestern of the Big Ten Conference in the Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas. In 2010, Williams helped lead the Aggies to a share of their first Big 12 South division crown in more than a decade and a berth in the Cotton Bowl. The Aggies made great strides in stopping the run in Williams' two seasons. Last year, A&M allowed just 101.9 rushing yards per game, which ranked No. 12 nationally. The year before Williams' arrival, the Aggies ranked No. 90 nationally (171.6 yards per game). In his first season, A&M improved to No. 30 nationally in rushing defense, allowing 130.2 yards per contest. Williams came to A&M after four years as the defensive line coach at Purdue. During his time with the Boilermakers, Williams coached the entire line each year with the exception of 2008 when he focused solely on the defensive end position. He served as Purdue's liaison to the NFL. In 2007, Williams worked with the Seattle Seahawks' defensive line during training camp. During the summer of 1999, Williams interned with the Jacksonville Jaguars, assisting with the defensive line. During his time at Purdue, Williams tutored the likes of Dallas Cowboy defensive lineman Anthony Spencer. Spencer led the NCAA in tackles for loss and was a first-team All-American before becoming a first-round pick of the Cowboys in 2007. Defensive end Cliff Avril was a third-round selection of the Detroit Lions in 2008 with Alex Magee being selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the third round of the 2009 NFL draft. Although Williams was considered one of Sherman's top recruiters, he left the defensive line pipeline thin going into the physical SEC due in part to the recruitment and commitment of a pair of JUCO linemen who did nor qualify academically. As a result, Texas A&M has signed only two interior defensive linemen in the past two recruiting classes.