A small HBCU in Fayetteville, North Carolina quietly made its presence felt in the NFL this week — and it came at cornerback.
Joshua Williams, the Fayetteville State alumnus now suiting up for the Tennessee Titans, was at the center of one of Week 6's more quietly significant roster decisions. Head coach Robert Saleh benched incumbent starter Alontae Taylor and handed Williams the starting job — a call that paid dividends as the Titans held off the Indianapolis Colts, 26–20.
Saleh's decision drew attention after the game, with Williams singled out as a key factor in Tennessee's victory. For a corner who took the long road to the NFL — getting the nod in a contested divisional-feel matchup is no small thing. This isn't a depth-chart footnote; it's a coaching staff putting its trust in Williams when it mattered.
The broader storyline here is what this start signals going forward. When a head coach makes a public switch at cornerback mid-season and his team wins, that player doesn't go back to the bench quietly. Williams has apparently done enough in practice and in spot duty to convince Saleh he's the better option, and Sunday's result only cements that case.
Fayetteville State — a Division II program in the CIAA — doesn't produce NFL starters every season. Williams represents exactly the kind of player scouts and coaching staffs sometimes overlook coming out of smaller schools, only to find that the talent was there all along. A Week 6 starting assignment for a team fighting for playoff positioning is the kind of opportunity that can define a career arc.
The Titans' other FSU-connected name on the roster, offensive tackle Kion Smith, remains with the San Francisco 49ers. No notable game action was reported for Smith during this period.
For Fayetteville State fans, the headline this week belongs entirely to Williams. One starting cornerback, one road win, and a coaching staff that now has every reason to keep writing his name on the depth chart.
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