May 9, 2008
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
Edwin Williams, a starting offensive lineman on the University of Maryland football team, has been named a recipient of the 2008 Wilma Rudolph Student-Athlete Achievement Award.
The award honors student-athletes who have overcome great personal, academic and/or emotional odds to achieve success in the classroom.
Williams, a native of Washington, D.C., is one of only five student-athletes nationally to receive the prestigious award. He is joined in the 2008 class by Mamadou Diene of Baylor (basketball), Megan Helton of Louisville (tennis), Patience Knight of Texas Tech (track and field) and Diane Nukuri of Iowa (track and field).
Recent recipients include former Ole Miss linebacker Patrick Willis, who was the 2007 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, and former USC running back Jody Adewale.
Williams, who attended DeMatha High School, has been a leader both on and off the field.
"Edwin is a high achiever," Maryland head coach Ralph Friedgen said. "He's a good student who maintains over a 3.0 GPA and will graduate this month."
Williams, a senior in the fall, is one of nine offensive returning starters. He has started the last 26 games at center and is a member of the Terrapin Council, the team's leadership unit. The 6-foot-3, 315-pounder is also involved in nearly all of the Terps' community-service endeavors and was a 2007 Academic All-ACC selection.
"Edwin is such a positive kid," Friedgen said. "He always has a smile on his face. He's also an extremely hard worker. I have no doubt he'll be a success in life at whatever he does."
Williams and the other recipients will be honored on June 8 at a banquet in Kansas City, Mo.
The award is named after the former track and field standout. Rudolph became the first American female athlete to win three gold medals in a single Olympic Games. At the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, she took home gold in the 100 meters, 200 meters and 4x100-meter relay.
Terp Notes:
NFL Update: Former TE Jason Goode earned a tryout with the Washington Redskins and participated in their minicamp last weekend. He signed a free-agent contract with the team this week ... Andrew Crummey signed as a free agent with San Diego after the draft. Crummey, however, was waived by the team last week, but signed a free-agent contract with the Redskins this week ... DL Carlos Feliciano was one of 11 free agents signed by the New England Patriots last week. He took part in last weekend's minicamp, but was waived by the team Monday ... Lance Ball took part in the Green Bay Packers' Rookie Orientation Camp last weekend and is hoping to receive a contract offer from the team.
Stadium Construction Update: Construction continues on the suites at Chevy Chase Bank Field at Byrd Stadium. Click here to view the construction cam and a blog.
