Dec. 21, 2006
NORMAL, Ill. -
Illinois State head coach Denver Johnson announced a pair of junior college signees during the mid-year signing period on Thursday, as Chris Garrett, a defensive back from Diablo Valley College, and Wesley Williams, a defensive lineman from Fullerton College, will each continue their education and football careers at Illinois State.
Garrett, a six-foot, 173-pound cornerback, will have three years of eligibility remaining at Illinois State. Last season with the Vikings, Garrett totaled 28 tackles, including 21 solo stops and a tackle for loss, while grabbing two interceptions and leading the team with eight pass break-ups. Diablo Valley posted an 8-3 record in 2006, including a 33-23 win over Siskiyous in the East County Bowl.
"Chris had some really great film," Johnson said. "He has some great speed and the athletic tools we are looking for in a lock-down corner. He comes from a tradition-filled high school program and we are excited to have him in a Redbird uniform."
Prior to Diablo Valley, Garrett played as a prep at De La Salle High School. The native of Concord, Calif, Garrett lettered in both football and track and field. He was a two-year starter with the Spartans and was a part of three straight North Coast Section (NCS) 4A Championships and three-straight Bay Valley Athletic League (BVAL) titles.
Williams, a 6-foot-1, 245-pound weak side defensive end, is from the same junior college as current Redbird running back Rafael Rice. In 2006, Williams played in six games for the Hornets and collected 11 tackles on the year, including six solo stops, two tackles for loss and a quarterback sack. He also returned a fumble 96 yards for a touchdown to give Fullerton an overtime win over Golden West.
Prior to his season at Fullerton, Williams spent two seasons at Ohio. He redshirted during the 2004 season and did not see any action with the Bobcats in 2005. He has two years of eligibility remaining with the Redbirds.
"We are losing four guys on the defensive line and we needed to supplement that area," Johnson said. "Wesley is a guy we liked coming out of high school, but it didn't work out at Ohio and we are glad to have him now. We think he can come in right away and address some of the needs we have at that position."
The Ann Arbor, Mich., native spent his high school career at Pioneer High School. With the Pioneers, Williams totaled 73 tackles, 24 tackles for loss and eight quarterback sacks as a senior. During his junior campaign, Williams collected 64 stops and 10 sacks, while advancing to the third round of the state playoffs.
Both Garrett and Williams have enrolled at Illinois State and will begin taking classes in the spring.
