Williams named MAC Special Teams Player of the Week

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - Junior wide receiver/kick returner Courtney Williams has been honored as MAC Special Teams Player of the Week for his efforts in Central Michigan's 42-10 win over Eastern Michigan, the conference office announced on Monday.

Williams quickly quashed any notions of an EMU comeback by taking the opening kickoff of the second half back for a touchdown. After the Eagles closed to within 21-10 just before halftime, Williams secured the high kick at the 16-yard line and weaved his way through the Eagles' coverage for the 84-yard score, providing the Chippewas with an 18-point lead. The kickoff return for a touchdown was the first of Williams' career and the first by a CMU player since Antonio Brown took one back 95 yards in the Chippewas' GMAC Bowl victory over Troy on January 6, 2010.

As a team, Central Michigan ended the regular season ranked No. 1 in the MAC and 29th nationally in kickoff returns, averaging 23.2 yards per run back.

Williams started all 12 games at wide receiver this season, catching 23 passes for 251 yards (10.8 avg.) and one touchdown. He also returned five kicks for a total of 209 yards (41.8 avg.).

Williams is the second Chippewa to earn special teams player of the week honors in as many weeks. Senior punter Richie Hogan won the award last week after averaging 47.7 yards on punts that were downed at the 13-, 2-, and 14-yard lines in CMU's 37-0 rout of UMass.

Overall in 2013, five different Chippewas were recognized by the Mid-American Conference with weekly honors. In addition to Williams and Hogan, sophomore safety Kavon Frazier (October 14), redshirt freshman safety Tony Annese (November 18) and sophomore defensive end Blake Serpa (November 25) received defensive accolades.

Central Michigan (6-6, 5-3 MAC) finished the 2013 regular season by winning three straight games to become bowl eligible for the sixth time in eight years. CMU also regained the Michigan MAC Trophy, by virtue of its victories over in-state rivals Western and Eastern Michigan, and earned the program's most conference wins since its MAC Championship season of 2009.

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