Jason Williams is a linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys, who selected him with the 69th overall pick in the third round of the 2009 NFL Draft. Jason Williams played four seasons for the Leathernecks of Western Illinois. Williams was the highest drafted player from Western Illinois since Leroy Jackson in 1962 (Browns, 11th overall). Williams is 6-feet, 3-inches tall and weighs 235 pounds.

Williams was a star quarterback at DuSable High School in Chicago. He thre for 3,015 yards and rushed for 2,988 in his career while accounting for 71 total touchdowns. As a senior, he led the Panthers to an undefeated record in Chicago's Intra-City Central Conference.

Williams was a two-time All-America selection at Western Illinois, the first player in school history to earn that honor. After starting his career as a safety, Williams moved to linebacker in 2006 and earned honorable mention All-Gateway Conference honors. He finished his first season as a linebacker with 92 total tackles (10.5 for loss) and three forced fumbles.

His junior season brought first team all-conference honors and second team All-America honors, as he led his conference in tackles for loss (16.5), sacks (8.0) and forced fumbles (5). As a senior, Williams finished the season with a school-record six forced fumbles, giving him 14 for his career. That set the FCS record and matched the NCAA all-divisions record. In 2008, Williams was a first-team All-America selection and finished fourth in the voting for the Buck Buchanan Award, given annually to the top FCS defensive player.

Williams was selected in the third round (69th overall) of the 2009 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys. Williams was the highest drafted player from Western Illinois since Leroy Jackson in 1962 (Browns, 11th overall). Before the 2009 season, Williams signed a four-year contract with Dallas.