Missouri Southern State University Athletics

Brandon Williams, the 2012 BSN and D2football.com National Player of the Year is still the program's leader in career sacks (27.0) and TFL's (49.5) while holding three of the top-five single-season sack totals in program history. His first round of All-American honors came in 2010, being named first-team by Daktronics, D2football.com, and AFCA after collecting 9.0 sacks, 17.0 tackles-for-loss, 50 total tackles (23 solo), and a forced fumble. In 2011, Williams finished with 8.0 sacks, 16.0 tackles-for-loss, while having 35 total tackles (19 solo), five pass breakups, and three quarterback hurries. That performance earned him first-team All-American honors by D2football.com, AFCA and Don Hansen while being a second-team All-American by the AP and a third-team honoree by BSN. To cap off his historic career wearing the Green and Gold, the 2012 season was special with Williams finishing with 8.5 sacks, 16.5 tackles-for-loss, 68 total tackles (31 solo), eight quarterback hurries, five forced fumbles, two pass breakups and recorded a safety. He was named the National Player of the Year by D2football.com and BSN, MIAA Defensive Player of the Year, earning first-team All-American honors by D2football.com, AFCA, BSN and the AP, and a second-team selection by Daktronics. 

The only player selected to the Senior Bowl in Lions history, Williams was drafted in the 3rd Round of the 2013 NFL Draft with pick number 94 by the Baltimore Ravens. With the Ravens, Williams played in 123 games from 2013-2021, getting the start in 114 of those contests. He finished with 323 total tackles (183 solo), 33.0 tackles-for-loss, 19 quarterback hits, 11 pass defended, 6.5 sacks, five fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles, and a defensive touchdown while earning Pro Bowl honors in 2018. In 2022 he signed with the eventual Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs, appearing in five regular season games and all three playoff games.