Derek Williams Jr.
Derek Williams Jr.
Moves between deep coverage and the slot. This is his third year in the same secondary at Texas. The receipt on tape: 8 tackles against Vanderbilt, Week 10, 2025.
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- positional archetype classification
- seasons on the roster
- game log
Career Arc
Coaching Lineage · 2023–2025
1 coachPlayed his entire career under Steve Sarkisian.
2025 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
Splits & context
Supporting Cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Steve Sarkisian
Awards
Player Standing · 17 rungs
Tier 1 · 2-deepR04 · Rotational
Rotational. Tackle volume for the position in rotation-piece range.
Career stats
How he plays
Play style
Moves between deep coverage and the slot — the modern positionless DB.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
Texas
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Defensive back · Texas
Returning around him
- 6 Texas players drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: -6 net (22 in / 28 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Texas · Last season: 10-3 (AP #14) · Talent rank #4 · 2026 recruiting class #7
DNA match
Player DNA
Hybrid Nickel
Moves between deep coverage and the slot — the modern positionless DB.
His 2025 production profile sits closest to John Slaughter’s 2025 season.
Matches John on
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a junior, his production profile tracks closest to John Slaughter's junior season at Colorado (2025).
Matches John on
Background
A fourth-year defensive back who has played in 29 games ... missed remaining 12 games of the 2024 season with season-ending injury. REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE (2025) Responsible for one tackle in season opener at No. 3/2 Ohio State (8/30) ... saw action vs. San Jose State (9/6) but did not record any sta...