Angelo Williams Competes In Cactus Bowl

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University football program was represented in the annual NCAA Division II All-Star Game this past Friday (Jan. 8) evening by senior cornerback and potential pro prospect Angelo Williams (Jackson).

Williams earned a start at one of the East Team's corner positions and made one solo tackle during the 2010 Valero Cactus Bowl, which was played at Javelina Stadium in Kingsville, Texas.  His squad fell to the West Team by a 16-0 count in the game.

Formerly known as the Snow Bowl and then the Whataburger Cactus Bowl, the contest annually features the top NCAA-II football seniors in the nation and is played in an East/West Team format. A selection committee picked the top players from among the best seniors in NCAA Division II football for participation in the game.

The Bulldog senior joined nine other players from Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) schools as part of the East Team, including Indianapolis center Tim Dury, offensive guard Bill Behling of Michigan Tech, Hillsdale placekicker Mark Petro and defensive end Drew Berube, defensive tackle Robert Callaway and linebacker John Jacobs of Saginaw Valley State along with the Grand Valley State trio of quarterback Brad Iciek, wide receiver Blake Smolen and offensive tackle Nick McDonald.  Additionally, cornerback Anthony Fields of Findlay played in the game for the West Team.

The Cactus Bowl began as the Snow Bowl in 1994 at the Fargo Dome in Fargo, North Dakota. After its initial seven-year run, the game moved to Kingsville in January 2001. The game was played in Kingsville for six years, took a hiatus in 2007 and returned to Javelina Stadium in 2008. There have been over 100 players drafted into the NFL who played in the Cactus Bowl. All net profits from the Cactus Bowl are donated to Shriners Hospitals for Children.

With his selection this year, Williams became the 17th Bulldog football player invited to compete in the all-star contest. Former Ferris State participants have included Rich Eash (1994), Ed Philion (1994), Chadd Richard (1995), Jerry Prys (1996), Doc Proctor (1999), Dennis Strey (1999), Dave Zuiderveen (2000), Clarence Coleman (2001), DeRen Ellis (2003), Matt McCoy (2004), Kevin Myers (2005), Whitney Bell (2005), Carlton Brewster (2006), Bill Bourdlais (2008), Kurt Hout (2008) and Jake Visser (2009). McCoy was a Cactus Bowl invitee but didn't participate due to an injury.

Valero is a part-owner of the San Antonio Spurs franchise, stepping in to help organize a bid when the franchise was being pursued by out-of-town buyers who, potentially, could have relocated the team. Valero has also been the title sponsor of the Valero Texas Open since 2002. In that time, the tournament has gone from the bottom of the PGA TOUR in terms of charitable fundraising to raising more for charity than any other event in PGA TOUR history.

The 5-11 Williams, who attained All-GLIAC Honorable Mention accolades for the 2009 season, was a four-year starter for the Bulldogs and compiled 113 total tackles along with 23 pass breakups in 38 career contests.  One of the team's fastest players and among the league's top cover guys, Williams helped the Bulldogs rank 12th nationally this past season in pass defense, giving up only 148.91 passing yards per contest, which was also second overall in the GLIAC.

The former Jackson High School All-State selection attained FSU team Most Improved Player Award accolades for the 2008 spring season and was tabbed as the squad's Most Valuable Defensive Skill Player this past fall. He ranked eighth among Ferris' tackles leaders in 2009 with 39 total stops and led the squad with six pass breakups. Twenty-six of his 39 tackles were solo hits. Williams ranked tied for 16th among the GLIAC leaders in passed defended (0.60 pg.).

Prior to the 2009 season, Williams was among 13 GLIAC players listed as "Others To Watch" in the inaugural D2 Football Preview Magazine published by d2football.com.

Please visit the Cactus Bowl website for a game recap, statistics and more:
http://www.cactusbowl.org/