Former Sacramento State football player signs with Bay Area team

(FOX40.COM) — A former Sacramento State football player is staying in Northern California to continue his career.

The Bay Area Panthers, a professional indoor football team based in San Jose, announced Monday they signed former Hornets receiver Pierre Williams.

The signing marks Williams’ return to football after last playing for the Hornets in 2022.

Williams ended his collegiate career ranking second in receiving yards, fourth in touchdowns and fifth in receptions on Sac State’s all-time list.

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“Pierre is a complete receiver with game-changing ability to win downfield,” Panthers head coach Rob Keefe said on the team’s website. “He has the skill and twitch to be a great high-volume target in the short and intermediate games with the ability to produce against any coverage.”

The Bay Area Panthers compete in the Indoor Football League — consisting of 16 teams — and host their games at the SAP Center in San Jose. The Panthers are the defending champions of the IFL.

Former NFL running back and Oakland native Marshawn Lynch is a co-owner of the Panthers.

Coming out of Patterson High School, Williams redshirted as a freshman in 2017 and went on to earn First Team All-Big Sky honors in 2019, 2021 and 2022.

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In his final college game, Williams caught eight passes for 102 yards and two touchdowns in the Hornets’ 66-63 quarterfinal playoff loss to Incarnate Word in 2022.

Projected as a late-round pick and possibly an undrafted a free agent, Williams made contact with 10 NFL teams prior to the 2023 NFL Draft, but he didn’t get selected and went unsigned.

“Hopefully, I can put out some good tape and open some eyes,” Williams said on the Panthers’ website. “I want to remind people who may have forgotten and let them know I’m still here.”

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