DALLAS — Former UTSA four-time track & field All-American Teddy Williams was added to the Dallas Cowboys' active 53-man roster on Tuesday. Williams, who originally signed with the organization on July 29, has been a member of the Cowboys' practice squad during the first 15 weeks of the regular season. The Tyler native will play wide receiver and wear No. 10.
Moved to receiver from cornerback last week, he saw action in four preseason games for the team and recorded four tackles along with a fumble recovery before being signed to the practice squad on Sept 5.
“It’s always a blessing to able to produce and to be able to be wanted,” Williams said after Tuesday's practice. “It’s a great feeling to know the coaches see something great in me and I’m going to continue to work hard.
“The way I believe in myself and, with my competitive nature, I always feel like I have a chance somewhere,” Williams said to ESPN Dallas. “When the coaches switched my position a couple weeks ago, I knew it was time to start over and move forward, s I did just that. I went out there, stuck my cleats in the ground and put my hands up to catch the ball."
"We liked Teddy right from the start," interim head coach Jason Garrett said. "He's a guy who's been out of football and he's obviously a fairly accomplished track guy. We loved his speed, but we also liked his body, how big he is, how physical he is and how he plays more like a football player than maybe a track guy. He's a guy who's not afraid of the contact of our game. The biggest thing for him was to learn to play and learn to play at this level."
Williams not only finished his career as the UTSA's lone four-time All-American, but he also helped lead the Roadrunners to six Southland Conference Championships (four indoor/two outdoor) from 2007-10. He claimed nine Southland titles (five indoor/four outdoor), was twice named the league's Indoor Athlete of the Year (2009-10) as well as Outdoor Outstanding Track Performer (2008, '10) and established UTSA records in the 55m (6.23a), 60m (Southland-best 6.59), 100m (9.90w), 200m (20.60w) and 400m relay (39.59).
Prior to this year, the 6-foot-3, 200-pounder last played on the gridiron as a senior at John Tyler High School. A three-year starter at wide receiver from 2003-05, he missed the last five games of his final season with a broken ankle. He was a second-team all-state selection as a junior and a three-time all-district honoree.
The Cowboys, 5-9 on the season, finish the 2010 campaign with road games at Arizona (Dec. 25) and Philadelphia (Jan. 2).
