CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Citadel's Kailik Williams has been named the Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Week, it was announced Monday.

Williams recorded 11 tackles, 1.0 for loss, and one interception returned 13 yards for a touchdown in The Citadel's 24-21 overtime victory at Wofford. The junior from Ormond Beach, Florida, authored the "Pitch Six", pulling off one of the most athletic defensive plays of the season to tie the game at 21-21 with 5:57 remaining in regulation. As the Terriers attempted a 3rd-down option play to the right side, Williams blitzed into the backfield and positioned himself between the quarterback and running back. When the quarterback attempted the pitch, Williams jumped up and grabbed the ball with one hand before sprinting into the end zone.


Williams recorded his fourth double-digit tackle game of the season and grabbed his second interception of 2016. He has a team-leading 62 tackles, including 4.5 for loss, with two interceptions and five pass breakups. His average of 8.9 tackles per game ranks eighth in the Southern Conference, and his seven passes defended are tied for third in the SoCon.

Williams' recognition is the seventh from the conference for The Citadel this season, and Williams, who also earned September's Defensive Player of the Month, is the first Bulldog to be recognized twice. B-Back Tyler Renew was named Offensive Player of the Week after the season opener at Mercer, defensive back Dee Delaney was named Defensive Player of the Week for week two, DeAndre Schoultz picked up Special Teams Player of the Week in week three, linebacker Joe Crochet earned the week five SoCon Defensive Player of the Week honor and kicker Cody Clark was the conference's Special Teams Player of the Week in week seven.

The 5th-ranked Bulldogs, who are 7-0 and have broken the program record for most wins to start a season, return to Johnson Hagood Stadium this week, hosting ETSU on Saturday at 2 p.m. For tickets, visit CitadelSports.com/tickets or call The Citadel Athletic Ticket Office at 843-953-DOGS (3647).

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