Tennessee football senior return man Dee Williams has declared for the NFL Draft, per his announcement on Instagram on Wednesday night.
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Williams did not have any years of eligibility remaining. The Forsyth, Georgia, native spent 2020 and 2021 at East Central Mississippi Community College in the JuCo ranks before playing the past two years in Knoxville.
While most players who played in 2020 would have an extra year of eligibility remaining due to COVID-19, Williams was in JuCo, so the COVID year is non-applicable.
Williams has played a key role for Tennessee’s special teams over the past two seasons, serving as the punt returner for both years and the kick returner in 2023.
The electric return man has been one of the SEC’s most dangerous returners in the past two seasons, recording over 800 return yards and two touchdowns.
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Both of Williams’ touchdowns have come on punt returns, with one coming in each season. Williams’ touchdown in 2022 came in Tennessee’s 56-0 bludgeoning of Vanderbilt, and his 2023 touchdown came in the Vols’ win over Texas A&M in Neyland Stadium.
The return specialist’s score against the Aggies was massive in the 20-13 win, as it came in the third quarter to give the Vols their first lead of the game in which they never surrendered.
Williams was also used as a reserve wide receiver at times during the 2023 season, catching two passes for 10 yards, with one reception coming against Vanderbilt and the other against UConn.
Williams joins a healthy list of Vols who have declared for the NFL Draft. Other notable names include running back Jaylen Wright, running back Jabari Small, cornerback Gabe Jeudy-Lally, quarterback Joe Milton III, and safety Jaylen McCollough.
The 2024 NFL Draft will take place in Detroit, Michigan, from April 25–27.
