Herb Williams had two of the biggest receptions in school history during the 1991 playoffs and one of the best seasons by a wide receiver in 1992. His two key receptions in 1991 helped propel the football program to its first National Championship.
Against Villanova in the first round of the playoffs, YSU began its final possession on its own 42-yard line with 2:16 remaining. After three plays lost one yard, the Penguins faced a fourth-and-11 from their 41. Quarterback Ray Isaac heaved a desperation pass downfield that was deflected but somehow was caught by Williams as he was falling to the ground at the Villanova 18-yard line. The 41-yard gain set up the game-winning field goal with six seconds left to help the Penguins advance to the second round.
In the National Championship Game, YSU trailed Marshall 17-6 early in the fourth quarter. Williams began the comeback with a 33-yard touchdown reception with 13:38 left to cut the deficit to 17-13. YSU went on to beat the Thundering Herd 25-17 and earn the first national title in school history.
Williams had an impressive career for the Penguins from 1988-92. He caught 110 passes for 2,031 yards and 13 touchdowns during his career, all in his final three seasons.
In 1992, he had the best year of his career with 72 receptions for 1,306 yards and nine touchdowns to earn third-team AP All-America accolades. His 1,306 yards set a single-season school mark while his 72 receptions were the second most in school history. He had six 100-yard receiving games, including two in the postseason. In the playoffs, he had 19 receptions for 344 yards and a touchdown. Against Marshall in the National Championship Game, he caught five passes for 104 yards and a touchdown.
During the season he caught a career-high 10 passes for a career-best 143 yards against James Madison. Williams had two long touchdown receptions (65 and 35) against Eastern Illinois. He caught touchdown passes in a string of five consecutive games and finished with six TDs in a seven-game stretch.
As a junior in 1991, he finished the season with 29 receptions for 491 yards and two touchdowns. He had a season-high eight receptions for 131 yards against Liberty and hauled in touchdown passes against Morgan State and Marshall.
As a sophomore in 1990, he caught nine passes for 234 yards and two touchdowns. He had touchdown receptions against Liberty, on a career-long 76-yard grab, and James Madison.
He redshirted in 1988 and was a member of the program in 1989.
Williams was a player on the 1989, 1990, 1991 and 1992 playoff squads and later served as an assistant coach from 1996-99. YSU won the FCS title in 1997 and was a finalist in 1999.
A native of Boardman, he was a standout football and basketball player for the Spartans. Williams helped lead the Spartans to a Division I State Championship game appearance in 1987. He was inducted into the Boardman High School Hall of Fame in 2006.
He earned his degree from YSU in Communications and received his MBA from the American Intercontinental University.
Williams, who resides in Pompano Beach, Fla., works as an Executive Institutional and Cardiovascular Sales Specialist for Johnson and Johnson Pharmaceuticals Inc.
