Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Quarterback DJ Williams Named Preseason All-American, Added to POY Watch List
07/13/2026 | 9:00:00 | Football
CARBONDALE, Ill. – SIU quarterback DJ Williams has added another honor to his growing list of accolades, earning 2026 Stats PerformFCS Preseason Third Team All-America recognition.
Williams is coming off a record-breaking 2025 season in which he finished eighth in the Walter Payton Award voting and third in the Missouri Valley Football Conference Offensive Player of the Year voting. He also earned All-America honors from FCS Football Central,The Associated Press and Stats Perform, while receiving All-MVFC Honorable Mention recognition. He was also named to the 2026 Walter Payton Award Preseason Watch List.
No Saluki quarterback has rushed for more yards in a season than Williams, who set a program record with 847 rushing yards and added 18 rushing touchdowns in 2025.
As a passer, Williams completed 222 of 352 attempts (63.0%) for 2,846 yards, 22 touchdowns and five interceptions.
Williams ranked fifth in the FCS in rushing touchdowns and total offense (307.8 yards per game). The Harvey, Illinois, native also ranked second nationally in points responsible for (246), 11th in passing yards and 18th in passing touchdowns.
Williams surpassed 300 passing yards three times, including a 361-yard performance at Youngstown State on Nov. 8. He also threw at least three touchdown passes in four games.
Williams rushed for more than 100 yards three times during the season. He recorded 128 yards and three touchdowns Sept. 13 at UT Martin, 151 yards and two touchdowns Sept. 20 at SEMO, and 134 yards and four touchdowns Nov. 22 at Illinois State. His four rushing touchdowns against the Redbirds tied for the third-most in a single game in program history.
This Season
Williams returns for his senior season with expectations high for the Salukis. Even after North Dakota State's move to the FBS, the MVFC remains one of the toughest conferences in the FCS.
SIU's conference schedule features 20 preseason All-Americans from the same Stats Perform team, including first-team quarterback Beau Brungard, who will lead Youngstown State into Carbondale on Oct. 3.
The Salukis also will host second-team selections Victor Dawson of Illinois State on Oct. 17 and Lofton O'Groske of South Dakota State on Nov. 14. The Jackrabbits also feature third-team tight end Greyton Gannon.
Others from MVFC selections include: first team - Quinten Christensen (OL), South Dakota State; Lance Rucker (DL), North Dakota; Michael Wells (DL), Youngstown State; and Tye Niekamp (LB), Illinois State; second team - Charles Pierre Jr. (RB), South Dakota; Liam Becher (OL), North Dakota; Desmeal Leigh (OL), Youngstown State; Dawson Ripperda (DL), South Dakota State; Kaden Vig (DL), North Dakota; Cullen McShane (LB), South Dakota State; Dylan Rowsey (DB), Murray State; and Max Pelham (P), South Dakota State; and third team - Landon Woodard (OL), Illinois State; Gabriel Hardman (LB), South Dakota; La'Shavion Brown (DB), Illinois State; and Andrew Lastovka (PK), Youngstown State. See the full list here.
To get season tickets for Saluki Football and see Williams in action, visit Saluk.is/footballseasontickets.
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