Kevon Williams

{{Short description|American rugby player (born 1991)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}} {{Infobox sportsperson | image = | caption = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|6|7}} | birth_place = | hometown = Houston, Texas, U.S. | height = {{cvt|1.78|m|ftin|order=flip}} | weight = {{cvt|84|kg|lb|order=flip}} | headercolor = lightsteelblue | module = {{Infobox rugby biography | embed = yes | position = Half-back (7s) <br> Wing (15s) | amatyears1 = | amatteam1 = | years1 = | apps1 = | points1 = | repyears1 = | repteam1 = | repcaps1 = | reppoints1 = | repsevensyears1 = 2016–present | repsevensteam1 = USA 7s | repsevenscomp1 = }}}}

'''Kevon Williams''' (born June 7, 1991) is an American rugby player who plays for the United States national rugby sevens team on the World Rugby Sevens Series.

== Early life and career == Williams is originally from Houston, Texas. He attended Westbury High School and college at the New Mexico Highlands. He also played American football as a wide receiver with the New Mexico Highlands Cowboys until 2012.<ref name="rugbytoday.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.rugbytoday.com/7s/2014-rugby-today-awards-college-7s-poy |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150112232548/http://www.rugbytoday.com/7s/2014-rugby-today-awards-college-7s-poy |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 12, 2015 |title=2014 RUGBY TODAY AWARDS - COLLEGE 7S POY |work=Rugby Today |first=Pat |last=Clifton |date=January 7, 2015}}</ref> He picked up rugby in 2013. His strong rugby play with New Mexico earned him the 2014 College Sevens Player of the Year award by Rugby Today magazine, in large part due to his play at the 2014 NSCRO national championship.<ref name="rugbytoday.com"/> Williams helped New Mexico win two straight NSCRO 7s titles in 2015 and 2016.<ref name="goffrugbyreport.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.goffrugbyreport.com/news/eagle-7s-men-picked-dubai |title=Eagle 7s Men Picked for Dubai |work=Goff Rugby Report |date=November 26, 2016}}</ref>

== International career == Williams was called into the U.S. national team in November 2016 for the 2016 Dubai Sevens and 2016 South Africa Sevens, replacing Carlin Isles who was out with an injury.<ref name="goffrugbyreport.com" /> During the 2017–18 season, with halfback Madison Hughes picking up an injury, Williams saw extensive playing time including several starts, appearing in 47 matches and scoring 14 tries. Williams experienced increased playing contributions in the 2018–19 season, often coming on early in the second-half as a substitute for Folau Niua, with Williams playing in 52 matches and scoring 18 tries. Williams was a consistent starter during the 2021–22 World Series.

He captained the United States sevens team at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 2, 2024 |title=USA Men's Roster for 2024 Paris Olympic Games |url=https://www.americasrugbynews.com/2024/07/02/usa-mens-roster-for-2024-paris-olympics-games/ |access-date=July 25, 2024 |website=Americas Rugby News |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Dean |first=Taylor |date=July 1, 2024 |title=USA Rugby Announces Men's Olympic Rugby Sevens Team for Paris |url=https://eagles.rugby/news/usa-rugby-announces-mens-olympic-rugby-sevens-team-for-paris-202471 |access-date=July 26, 2024 |website=eagles.rugby |language=en}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * [https://usa.rugby/players/kevon-williams/2109 Kevon Williams] at USA Rugby * {{Team USA|new_id=kevon-williams-801897|old_id=Kevon-Williams|sport=usa-rugby|archive=20230529045926}} * {{Olympedia}} * {{Olympics.com|kevon-williams}} * [https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/athlete/kevon-williams_1950556 Kevon Williams] at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics

{{DEFAULTSORT:Williams, Kevon}} Category:Rugby union players from Texas Category:Living people Category:1991 births Category:Players of American football from Houston Category:American football wide receivers Category:New Mexico Highlands Cowboys football players Category:Rugby sevens players at the 2020 Summer Olympics Category:Olympic rugby sevens players for the United States Category:United States international rugby sevens players Category:American rugby sevens players Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen Category:African-American rugby union players Category:Rugby sevens players at the 2024 Summer Olympics Category:Westbury High School (Houston) alumni Category:21st-century American sportsmen