BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Samford freshman offensive lineman Mike Williams was named to Phil Steele's Freshman All-America team, when the team was released Wednesday.
 
Williams started all 12 games on the offensive line for Samford this season. He started at right guard and consistently turned in strong performances for the Bulldogs.
 
At the conclusion of the season, Williams was named to the Southern Conference's All-Freshman team.
 
The Bulldogs posted a record of 8-4 overall and 6-2 in SoCon play this season. Samford reached the FCS Playoffs in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1992.
 
2017 FCS FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICA TEAMS
OFFENSIVE FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: RB Zane Dudek, Yale
DEFENSIVE FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: LB Bryson Armstrong, Kennesaw State
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: LB Bryson Armstrong, Kennesaw State
 
FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
WR Austin Mitchell, Southeastern Louisiana
WR Rashid Shaheed, Weber State
WR Isaiah Weston, UNI
TE Trae Barry, Jacksonville State
OL Connor Mignone, Central Connecticut State
OL Cole Strange, Chattanooga
OL Jonathan Cole, The Citadel
OL Jon Barrett Lewis, The Citadel
OL Tyler Downs, Weber State
QB Daniel Smith, Campbell
RB Zane Dudek, Yale RB Pete Guerriero, Monmouth
 
FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
DL Anthony Knighton, Southern Illinois
DL Brian Carter, New Hampshire
DL Colby Ritten, Richmond
DL Nathan Schultz, South Dakota
LB Bryson Armstrong, Kennesaw State
LB Jabril Cox, North Dakota State
LB Glenn Cunningham, Fordham
LB Jaron Grayer, Maine
DB Franklin McCain, North Carolina A&T
DB CJ Wall, Princeton
DB Vincent Sellers, Tennessee State
DB Mark Williams, Eastern Illinois
 
FIRST TEAM SPECIALISTS
K Trey Tuttle, Weber State
P Michael Turk, Lafayette
RS Rashid Shaheed, Weber State
 
SECOND TEAM OFFENSE
WR Kortez Weeks, Elon
WR Landen Measom, Southern Utah
WR Aulden Knight, Hampton
TE Owen Cosenke, Western Carolina
OL Mason Scheidegger, South Dakota
OL Reed Kroeber, Furman
OL Mike Williams, Samford
OL Tyler Ciurej, South Dakota
OL Drew Himmelman, Illinois State
QB Gresch Jensen, Montana
RB Troy Anderson, Montana State
RB Torrance Marable, Presbyterian
 
SECOND TEAM DEFENSE
DL Nathan Grant, Central Arkansas
DL Logan McCormick, North Dakota State
DL Jordan Berner, Southern Illinois
DL Ike Onwuasoanya, Texas Southern
LB Reynard Ellis, Furman
LB Simeon Page, Bucknell
LB Troy Anderson, Montana State
LB Colby Reeder, Delaware
DB Xavior Williams, Northern Iowa
DB Jaylen Thomas, Sam Houston State
DB Bryan Cook, Howard
DB Jalen Russell, Southern Utah
 
SECOND TEAM SPECIALISTS
K Zach Elder, Prairie View A&M
P Harry O'Kelly, James Madison
RS Cade Johnson, South Dakota State