Welcome to the 2022 FCS Jersey Countdown.
Leading up to Week 0 games on Aug. 27, HERO Sports will name the best returning FCS player by jersey number, 99-0. Due to rosters being updated at different times for teams across the country and to keep things consistent, jersey numbers are based on last season’s rosters.
The 99-0 countdown central page can be found here.
Note: Jersey numbers are based on 2021 rosters.
84: Pierre Williams, WR (Sr.) — Sacramento State
Williams has enjoyed a long and successful career with the Hornets. He is entering his sixth season at Sac State and will be a top-tier receiver in the Big Sky Conference and FCS.
A two-star recruit out of Gustine, California, Williams redshirted in 2017. He then established himself as the go-to WR in 2018 as a redshirt freshman. Williams led Sac State with 31 catches for 553 yards and five TDs.
The 6-foot-1, 212-pounder took another step forward as an elite WR and flourished in 2019 in new head coach Troy Taylor’s offense. Williams caught 54 passes for 931 yards and seven TDs. Against Sac State’s two FBS opponents Arizona State and Fresno State, he had a combined 10 receptions for 127 yards.
Williams earned All-Big Sky First Team honors and was the team’s Outstanding Offensive Back as Sac State enjoyed a breakthrough season, finishing 9-4.
Williams was a HERO Sports Preseason Third Team All-American entering 2020. But COVID pushed the fall season back to the spring of 2021, and the Hornets opted out.
Sac State returned to the field last fall. Once again, Williams had a fantastic year.
He recorded 50 catches for 764 yards and three TDs. Some of his best games came against the top opponents. Williams had eight catches for 121 yards and a TD against FBS Cal, nine catches for 122 yards against Northern Iowa, six catches for 97 yards versus Montana, and seven catches for 100 yards and a TD in a 24-19 second-round playoff loss against South Dakota State.
Williams earned First Team All-Conference accolades for the second time.
Sac State finished last fall 9-3 and 8-0 in Big Sky play. The Hornets received the No. 4 seed for the second straight fall season, but they are 0-2 in the bracket. This has stirred debate in the FCS community on how good Sac State really is. But with the level of talent like Williams, TE Marshel Martin, and QBs Jake Dunniway and Asher O’Hara, the Hornets look to get over that playoff hump this year. They are No. 10 in our Preseason Top 25.
