Former Tiger Reuniting with Panthers

A former Clemson defensive lineman is reuniting with the Carolina Panthers.

The Panthers announced Tuesday that they have signed DeShawn Williams to their practice squad.

Williams spent 2023 in Carolina after signing with the Panthers ahead of last season. He posted 33 total tackles, seven quarterback hits and a sack in 2023 while playing in 16 games with 10 starts.

Williams, who was in camp with the Buffalo Bills this summer, played under Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero last season and also played in Denver when Evero was the DC for the Broncos in 2022.

Originally an undrafted free agent in 2015, the 6-foot-1, 295-pound Williams has spent time with the Bengals, Dolphins, Colts, Bills and Calgary Stampeders of the CFL, to go along with three stints with the Broncos and his one season with the Panthers.

Williams spent three seasons in Denver prior to his time in Carolina and had a career-high 4.5 sacks in 2022. The 31-year-old has tallied 148 total tackles, 11 tackles for loss and nine sacks in his NFL career.

A former Daniel High School standout, Williams played at Clemson from 2011-14, racking up 161 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss, five sacks, 24 quarterback pressures, four pass breakups, one recovered fumble and two blocked kicks over 53 games (17 starts) in his career as a Tiger.