BIRMINGHAM, Ala.—Samford defensive lineman Nicholas Williams was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the seventh round of the 2013 National Football League Draft Saturday afternoon.
 
Williams, who was the 223rd overall pick in the Draft, becomes the fifth player in Samford history to be drafted. This marks the second year in a row a Samford player was taken in the NFL Draft, as Corey White was drafted in the fifth round by the New Orleans Saints in the 2012 Draft. This is the first time Samford has had players drafted in back-to-back years.
 
Cortland Finnegan, who currently plays for the St. Louis Rams, was taken in the seventh round of the 2006 Draft by the Tennessee Titans.
 
Prior to Finnegan, Gary Fleming was selected in the seventh round of the 1969 Draft by the Baltimore Colts, and Rex Keeling was taken in the 16^th round by the Houston Oilers in 1967.
 
For his senior season in 2012, Williams had 31 tackles, including 15 solo stops. Williams had seven sacks and eight tackles for a loss last season. His seven sacks ranked second in the Southern Conference.
 
For his career, Williams had 66 tackles, with 39 of those being solo stops. He finished his career with 11 tackles for a loss and 10.5 sacks.
 
ALL-TIME SAMFORD NFL DRAFT PICKS
Rex Keeling                Houston Oilers, 1967                          16^th Round
Gary Fleming              Baltimore Colts, 1969                         7^th Round
Cortland Finnegan      Tennessee Titans, 2006                       7^th Round
Corey White                New Orleans Saints, 2012                  5^th Round       
Nicholas Williams       Pittsburgh Steelers, 2013                    7^th Round