WACO, Texas (Dec. 17) – Behind a prolific season on special teams and offense, California (PA) sophomore
Deontae Williams was announced as an American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Second-Team All-American on Wednesday morning.
Williams earned the honor at all-purpose which is recognized as a specialist on the AFCA listing. He becomes the seventh Cal player in the last decade to be named to the AFCA All-America Teams. In total, 12 players have combined for 14 AFCA All-America selections since their inception in 1972. Williams is also the first player in program history to garner the accolade at all-purpose, which replaced return specialist in 2006.
A Pittsburgh native, Williams ranked second in NCAA Division II with 912 combined return yards and was one of only two players nationally with at least 600 kickoff return yards and 200 punt return yards. He sat fourth in the nation with 34.0 yards per kickoff return and ranked among the top 10 in the country with 11.7 yards per punt return. Williams became the first Cal player since AFCA All-American Garry Brown in 2016 to return both a kickoff and punt for a touchdown in the same year.
Williams led the team with 1,438 all-purpose yards and ranked among the top 30 in the nation with 110.54 all-purpose yards per game, which was the third-highest average among players with less than 80 plays. He finished second on the team with 517 receiving yards and 37 receptions after making just one catch in 2024. Williams registered the most all-purpose yards since Nelson Brown in 2018 and the most by a wide receiver since Garry Brown surpassed 2,200 yards while being a national finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy in 2016.
A 6-foot-0 sophomore, Williams was one of eight representatives from the PSAC on the AFCA All-America Teams in 2025 with Slippery Rock offensive lineman Joe Cooper the lone AFCA First-Team All-American.
This season, the Vulcans advanced to the second round of the NCAA Playoffs following a road win over third-seeded Virginia Union. Cal played five games against nationally-ranked opponents and played seven contests decided by five points or less. The Vulcans finished with nine victories this fall to secure their 21st-consecutive winning season.
