Hall of Fame
Recruited out of Malvern, Arkansas by SAU Hall of Fame coach Raymond “Rip” Powell, Cornell Williams became one of the first African American student-athletes to play football at Southern State College. Arriving in 1969, the 5’9”, 160-pound speedster quickly established himself as one of the most dynamic playmakers in Mulerider Football history.
As a freshman, Williams showcased remarkable versatility by accounting for touchdowns in five different ways. In just his third collegiate game against Mississippi College, he returned a kickoff 91 yards for a touchdown and later added a 23-yard rushing score. Later that season, he hauled in an 89-yard touchdown reception, returned a punt 69 yards for a touchdown against Harding, and completed a halfback pass for a touchdown against Arkansas Tech.
Williams earned a reputation as the Muleriders’ big-play threat throughout his career. He returned three punts for touchdowns, including a 72-yard score during Homecoming against Northwood as a sophomore and a 70-yard return in a victory over rival Henderson State during his junior season.
One of the most memorable moments of his career came in the 1971 season opener against Southeast Oklahoma. Trailing 13-9 in the fourth quarter, Coach Powell inserted Williams as the punter. Instead of kicking, Williams took off down the left sideline on a fake punt and raced 67 yards for the game-winning touchdown in a 15-13 Mulerider victory. During that same junior campaign, he threw a 35-yard touchdown pass in the season finale against Arkansas-Monticello.
Williams helped lead the Muleriders to the 1972 AIC Championship, the program’s first conference title since 1952. Southern State finished 8-2 overall and 5-1 in league play. In the final game of his collegiate career, Williams delivered one of his finest performances, rushing for 177 yards on a rain-soaked Wilkins Stadium field to lead the Muleriders to a 43-0 victory over Arkansas-Monticello.
A two-time All-AIC Honorable Mention selection, Williams finished his career with 4,757 all-purpose yards, a school record that stood for more than 50 years. Beyond football, he also competed for the Mulerider track and field team, further demonstrating the athletic ability that made him one of the most electrifying athletes of his era.
