As a sophomore at Arizona State University he earned first-team All-Pac-10 honors as a punt returner and also had 29 catches for 360 yards and six touchdowns. In 2008, Williams was named honorable mention all-conference as a returner averaging 17.0 yards on punt returns, and also had 19 catches for 364 yards and four touchdowns as a receiver. Williams finally became a regular starter as a senior, leading the Sun Devils with 57 catches for 815 yards and eight touchdowns in 2009, in addition to garnering first-team All-Pac-10 as a wide receiver by PhilSteele.com, and second-team All-Pac-10 as a punt returner.
Professional career
San Francisco 49ers
Williams was selected in the 6th round with the 206th pick of the 2010 NFL Draft, by the San Francisco 49ers. He was injured most of the 2010 season. Williams played in five games and made one reception for 8 yards in the November 21, 2010 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. On September 18, 2011, he caught his first touchdown pass in a game against the Dallas Cowboys. On November 20, he caught his second touchdown pass against the Arizona Cardinals. He caught his third in a catch-and-run spanning 56 yards on December 4 against the St. Louis Rams. Williams caught 16 passes in a six-game stretch late in the season after his role increased with injuries to 49ers wide receivers. In the playoffs, Williams caught two passes and made a key block on quarterback Alex Smith's go-ahead 28-yard touchdown run in a 36–32 divisional round win over the New Orleans Saints. With Ted Ginn Jr. injured, Williams started at wide receiver and performed punt returns in the 49ers' 20–17 loss in the NFC championship game. He lost two fumbles returning punts, including one in overtime that preceded the game-winning field goal by the New York Giants. His other fumble in the fourth quarter was followed by a Giants' touchdown to retake the lead, 17–14. Smith defended Williams saying: "Offensively we weren't good enough today. We didn't get it done.... You can't put it on ". On November 12, 2013, the 49ers released Williams.
Kansas City Chiefs
On November 13, 2013, Williams was claimed off waivers by the Kansas City Chiefs. Williams announced on November 22, 2013 that he had torn his ACL and would miss the remainder of the season. Re-signing with the Chiefs on April 21, 2014, Williams played all four preseason games in 2014 for Kansas City but injured his shoulder in the final preseason game. On September 1, 2014, the Chiefs released Williams.
Denver Broncos
Williams signed with the Denver Broncos in 2014, however on August 1, 2015, he ruptured his Achilles tendon in his left leg, and announced he would miss the entire 2015 season. On February 7, 2016, Williams was part of the Broncos team that won Super Bowl 50. In the game, the Broncos defeated the Carolina Panthers by a score of 24–10.
New York Jets
Williams signed with the Jets on June 17, 2016. On August 28, 2016, Williams was waived by the Jets.
Personal life
Williams's father is Chicago White Sox Executive Vice President Kenny Williams. His mother Ayiko Broyard is an executive with Walton Issacson and produces the show Versus and Flow on TV One. His brothers, Kenny and Tyler, both played minor league baseball.
