Many of North Carolina’s top high school football players take their talents beyond state lines for college. Former Weddington standout Ian Williams has become one of the top special teams weapons in the FCS. Now entering his fourth season at Furman, Williams has emerged as a record-breaking placekicker and punter for the Paladins.
Where Are They Now? Ian Williams (Weddington HS → Furman)
📍 Hometown/High School: Charlotte | Weddington
🏈 Position: Kicker/Punter
🎓 College: Furman Paladins (FCS | SoCon)
🔹 2024 Rewind:
- SoCon’s top three-position specialist (Kicker, Punter, Kickoffs)
- Converted 14-of-20 FGs, including two school-record 57-yarders in games against Mercer and Stetson
- Led Furman in scoring (66 points) and ranked among FCS kickoff leaders (43 touchbacks on 49 kicks)
- Named Stats Perform National Special Teams Player of the Week after the Mercer contest (3-3 FGs, 2-2 PATs, 7 punts, 6 kickoffs)
- Punted 12 times against Ole Miss in the season opener, averaging 40.1 yards with a long of 51.
🔹 Looking Ahead to 2025:
- Likely preseason All-SoCon selection
- Career stats: 42 FGs, 104 touchbacks, and 40.6-yard punting average after taking on that role full-time in 2024
- Expected to be a game-changer for Furman’s special teams unit again as the Paladins battle for upper-division finish in the SoCon
- Was named Furman team “Lifter of the week” in mid-February
- Furman will play at Campbell and Western Carolina this coming season
🏆 High School Highlights (Weddington HS, NC)
- 2020 graduate of Weddington HS, where he handled both kicking and punting duties
- Senior year (COVID season): 7-of-12 FGs, long of 45 yards
- Junior year (2018): 18-of-21 FGs (long of 52), 70-of-71 PATs, helped Weddington go 16-0 & win the 3A state title
- Kickoff weapon: 73 of 84 kickoffs resulted in touchbacks
- Team Rankings: No. 2 in NC (all classifications) & No. 78 nationally
- Recruiting Ranking: No. 6 kicker nationally by Kohl’s Kicking, No. 8 by ESPN.com
- Initially signed with NC State before transferring to Furman
- SOURCE: Furman University athletics
🔗 Read Williams’ Furman bio page
Ian Williams ties his own Furman record long field goal with a 57-yarder to open the 2H scoring. pic.twitter.com/0mzJAdXzRB — Furman Football (@PaladinFootball) November 23, 2024
