Jafar Williams joined the Vanderbilt football staff in 2024 as assistant wide receivers coach. Williams comes to Nashville after spending the previous seasons as wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator at Temple.
Alongside wide receivers coach Alex Bailey, Williams helped Quincy Skinner Jr. and Junior Sherrill become integral parts of the Vandy offense in 2024. Sherrill built on an outstanding freshman campaign by producing 29 catches for 411 yards and three touchdowns. Skinner matched Sherrill’s reception and touchdown total while accumulating 367 yards.
The receiver group also saw the further development of former walk-on Richie Hoskins. Voted a team captain in 2024, Hoskins had 11 catches for 131 yards and two scores. He was named Burlsworth Trophy Walk-On of the Week after scoring in Vandy’s win at Kentucky and earned Academic All-District Accolades.
Williams added a depth of experience on the offensive side of the ball to the Vanderbilt staff, with previous stints including Virginia Tech, Maryland, Rutgers, Purdue, Kent State and Northwestern.
With the Owls, Williams mentored Jose Barbon to a 71-catch, 910-yard season in 2023, helping him finish among the top 15 in career receiving yards at TU. In 2023, Amad Anderson moved into the school’s top 20 in both receptions and receiving yards.
Prior to Temple, Williams spent three seasons as wide receivers coach at Virginia Tech. He helped Tre Turner, Tayvion Robinson and Damon Hazelton each earn All-ACC honors.
In 2018, Williams served as running backs coach at his alma mater, Maryland. Backs Anthony McFarland and Ty Johnson were one of the top duos in the Big Ten, ranking second and third in the league in yards per carry. McFarland set the Maryland freshman rushing record with 1,034 yards on the year.
Williams was at Rutgers for two seasons as receivers coach from 2016-17. During the 2016 season, Jawuan Harris led all Big Ten freshmen with 39 catches for 481 yards.
From 2011-15, Williams was running backs coach for head coach Darrell Hazell, first at Kent State (2011-12), then Purdue (2013-15). With the Boilermakrers, Markell Jones set the school’s freshman rushing record with 875 yards while his 10 rushing touchdowns led the team.
At Kent State, Williams helped the Golden Flashes to the 2012 Mid-American Conference East Division title. Dri Archer and Traylon Durham provided one of the best one-two punches in the country, combining for 2,745 yards and 30 touchdowns. Archer earned consensus All-America honors and the team ranked 18th nationally in rushing offense.
Williams spent one season at Northwestern as special teams quality control and one year as wide receivers coach at Howard. Those stops were preceded by a two-year stint as wide receivers coach at Illinois State and one year coaching receivers at Moravian College in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
In his playing days for the Terrapins, Williams made 90 catches for 1,301 yards and seven touchdowns. The highlight was a 64-yard touchdown in the 2002 Orange Bowl. His 20.07 yards per catch in 2002 remain the third-best single-season mark in school history.
The Philadelphia native was an all-city selection at George Washington High School, where he served as team captain his senior year.
Williams graduated from Maryland in 2003 and has one son, Nylan.
The Williams File
Hometown: Philadelphia, Pa.
High School: George Washington
College: Maryland (2003)
Children: Nylan
Playing Experience
1999-2002 • Maryland (wide receiver)
Coaching Career
2005 • Moravian • Wide Receivers
2006 • Moravian • Wide Receivers
2007 • Illinois State • Wide Receivers
2008 • Illinois State • Wide Receivers
2009 • Howard • Wide Receivers
2010 • Northwestern • Special Teams Quality Control
2011 • Kent State • Running Backs
2012 • Kent State • Running Backs
2013 • Purdue • Running Backs
2014 • Purdue • Running Backs
2015 • Purdue • Running Backs
2016 • Rutgers • Wide Receivers
2017 • Rutgers • Wide Receivers
2018 • Maryland • Running Backs
2019 • Virginia Tech • Wide Receivers
2020 • Virginia Tech • Wide Receivers
2021 • Virginia Tech • Wide Receivers
2022 • Temple • Wide Receivers/Pass Game Coordinator
2023 • Temple • Wide Receivers/Pass Game Coordinator
2024 • Vanderbilt • Assistant Wide Receivers Coach
Postseason Experience
2001 • Maryland • Orange Bowl (player)
2002 • Maryland • Peach Bowl Champions (player)
2010 • Northwestern • Cotton Bowl
2012 • Kent State • MAC Championship Game
2012 • Kent State • GoDaddy.com Bowl
2019 • Virginia Tech • Belk Bowl
2021 • Virginia Tech • Pinstripe Bowl
2024 • Vanderbilt • Birmingham Bowl Champions