Playing in the ACC under coach Chuck Amato, Williams was a juggernaut for the Wolfpack at the defensive end position. He was a Blue Chip recruit coming out of Richlands high school, and he did not disappoint, starting at DE all three seasons at State. He recorded 175 tackles and 25.5 sacks in his 36 game career.

At the NFL Combine, he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.65 seconds with a 40.5 inch vertical jump, 10-foot broad jump and did 38 reps in the 225-pound bench press. During the 2005 season, he started 12 games, recording 62 total tackles with 24 tackles for loss, 14.5 sacks, 15 hurries, a safety and a blocked kick.

On Friday, April 28, 2006, hours before the 2006 NFL Entry Draft, the Houston Texans announced that they had reached an agreement, worth $54 million over 6 years, with Williams, and he would be the first overall pick in the 2006 NFL draft.

--Wikipedia