CHICAGO — The Chicago Bears claimed former St. Louis Rams linebacker Jabara Williams off waivers on Thursday. Williams, selected in the seventh round by the Rams in the 2011 NFL draft, played in two games for St. Louis this season before being released.
The Bears were on the lookout for another linebacker to add to the mix; the club began the regular season with only five on the active roster. Bears general manager spent the past two months scanning the league for young, athletic linebackers who could contribute on special teams. A spot on the Bears’ 53-man roster opened up Thursday when the team parted ways with veteran safety Chris Harris.
Williams played collegiately at Stephen F. Austin, where he was named the Southland’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2010. A three-time all-conference first-team selection, Williams finished his college career with 411 tackles, seven sacks and four interceptions.
Turfshowtimes, a Rams blog had this to say about Williams…
A seventh-round pick from Stephen F. Austin, a division II school in Texas, Williams had yet to see much playing time beyond special teams. Athletic but raw, Williams made a favorable impression in camp, favorable enough that it convinced the Rams to let veteran free agent Zac Diles walk. Williams will be eligible for the practice squad if he clears waivers.
At Stephen F. Austin, Williams was a two-time All-America selection, he was also a Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Year and a three-time First-team All-Southland Conference selection.
Following a freshman campaign that saw him start both as a linebacker and running back in which he made 58 tackles, he went on to lead the SLC in tackles in 2008 with 132. As a junior, in 2009, he made 113 tackes (9.5 for losses) and deflected 7 passes. As a senior in 2010 he made 108 tackles (6.5 for losses) and 5 passes defensed. He ended his college career with 411 career tackles, while leading Stephen F. Austin to back-to-back conference titles for the first time in school history.
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