KU football dismisses defensive tackle D.J. Williams

By Benton Smith     Oct 13, 2016

Nick Krug
Kansas defensive tackle D.J. Williams (91) looks to smother Memphis running back Patrick Taylor Jr. (6) during the second quarter on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2016 at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis, Tenn.

The Kansas football defense will have to play the remainder of the season down one defensive lineman.

The program dismissed sophomore defensive tackle D.J. Williams this week for a violation of team rules.

Williams’ name disappeared from KU’s official roster. A team spokesperson confirmed to the Journal-World Williams no longer plays for the Jayhawks, but didn’t specify what sort of infraction led to the tackle’s discharge.

A 6-foot-5, 302-pound sophomore form Lufkin, Texas, Williams suited up and contributed for Kansas as recently as Saturday, when he started at defensive tackle due to the absence of injured regular Daniel Wise.

The dismissed tackle appeared in four games this season for Kansas (1-4 overall, 0-2 Big 12). Williams made three solo tackles and one tackle for loss over the past month-plus.

Mike Yoder
Kansas sophomore defensive tackle D.J. Williams works out with the Jayhawk football team during conditioning drills Friday, July 15, 2016.

As a redshirt freshman, Williams played in eight games as a reserve in 2015, contributing 11 total tackles, a forced fumble (at Texas) and 1.5 tackles for loss.

While redshirting in 2014, Williams earned KU’s George Mrkonic Award as the scout team’s top defensive player of the season.

Williams arrived at Kansas as a three-star prospect recruited by former head coach Charlie Weis’s staff. Williams picked the Jayhawks, despite offers from Miami (Fla.), Oklahoma and Missouri.

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