He played college football for the Miami Hurricanes, was recognized as an All-American, and was a member of two national championship teams.
He was a member of the Hurricanes' national championship teams in 1989 and 1991, and was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American in 1991.
The Cincinnati Bengals selected Williams in the first round of the 1992 NFL draft, with the 28th pick overall.
[4] During his first four seasons with the team he started 60 of 64 games in which he played, recording 402 tackles, nine interceptions, and 6.5 quarterback sacks.
He spent the next two years with the Bengals starting 17 of 31 games, recording 126 tackles, two interceptions, and 3.5 sacks.