North Carolina State University Athletics
TIM PEELER: Williams Has 2 Interceptions for Vikings
12/13/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 13, 2005
By Tim Peeler
RALEIGH - This time, it was a different former NC State player who helped the Minnesota Vikings win their sixth consecutive game.
Cornerback Brian Williams intercepted two passes and forced a fumble in the Vikings 27-13 victory over the St. Louis Rams, as Minnesota created six turnovers against the Rams.
Wide receiver Koren Robinson had another productive day, even though he had only one catch for 15 yards. He scored the Vikings' first touchdown of the day on a 13-yard end-around and set up a field goal with a 61-yard kickoff return.
Robinson has been an important contributor on special teams and is now fourth in the NFL with a 26.6-yard return average.
The Vikings (8-5) have won six consecutive games after a 2-5 start and are only one game behind NFC North-leading Chicago in the standings.
Rams' wide receiver Torry Holt, who has already recorded his sixth consecutive season with at least 1,000 yards, reached a big milestone, making his 600th career reception. He had 10 catches for 95 yards on the day, and is now second in Rams-franchise history with 602 career receptions, trailing only current Rams teammate Isaac Bruce's 804 career catches.
Holt is in his seventh season with the Rams.
In other news about the 18 former Wolfpack players in the NFL, rookie Lamont Reid made his first career start with the Arizona Cardinals in a 17-13 loss to the Washington Redskins. Arizona teammate Adrian Wilson had his first interception of the season in the same game.
Seattle offensive lineman Sean Locklear continues to help the Seahawks dominate the line of scrimmage. He has started all 13 games for the Seahawks, who have won a franchise-record nine straight contests. Seattle running back Shaun Alexander leads the NFL with 1,496 rushing yards and the Seahawks are third in the team rushing.
New York Jets' wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery, in his second year in the NFL, has moved into the top 10 in punt returns, averaging 8.7 yards per return.
Detroit Lions safety Terrence Holt was recently put on injured reserve because of an elbow injury.
S Adrian Wilson
6-3, 230
Years at NC State: 1998-2000
Acquired: 3rd round draft pick, 2001
Experience: 4 years
Depth chart status: Starting safety
Notes: Wilson made his first interception of the season - and the 10th of his career - in the Cardinals' 17-13 loss to Washington. He returned the pick 36 yards. Wilson, Arizona's leading tackler, also had seven tackles in the game. The Cardinals (4-9) play at Houston on Sunday at 1 p.m.
CB Lamont Reid
5-11, 203
Years at NC State: 2001-04.
Acquired: Signed as an undrafted free agent.
Experience: Rookie
Notes: Reid, who bounced between the Cardinals and the Jets in the preseason, made his first career start in Arizona's 17-13 loss to Washington. Reid made five tackles and defended one pass in the loss. He now has 17 tackles in nine games for the Cards (4-9), who play at Houston on Sunday.
6-6, 330
Years at NC State: 2000-02
Acquired: 7th-round draft pick, 2003
Experience: 2 years
Depth chart status: Second-team right guard
Notes: Kooistra saw limited action as an offensive guard in the Bengals' 23-20 victory over Cleveland on Sunday. The AFC North-leading Bengals (9-3) host Cleveland Sunday at 1 p.m. Because Pittsburgh beat Chicago, Cincinnati is still looking to clinch its first division title in 15 years. The Bengals (10-3) can win the division title in Detroit, where they play the Lions at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
6-2, 208
Years at NC State: 1999-2002
Acquired: 5th round draft pick, 2003
Experience: 2
Depth chart status: Starting free safety
Notes: Holt was placed on Injured Reserve late last week, keeping him out of his third game this season, as the Lions lost 16-13 to the Green Bay Packers. The Lions (4-9) host Cincinnati on Sunday at 1 p.m.
LB Pat Thomas
6-2, 237
Years at NC State: 2001-2004
Acquired: 6th-round draft pick, 2005
Experience: Rookie
Depth chart status: Reserve outside linebacker
Notes: Thomas was not active for the Jaguars 26-18 loss to the undefeated Indianapolis Colts. Thomas has now missed three of Jacksonville's last four games because of a hamstring injury. Jacksonville (9-4) hosts San Francisco at 1 p.m. Sunday.
DB Dewayne Washington
5-11, 193
Years at NC State: 1990-93
Acquired: Signed as a free agent, July 29, 2005; drafted in the 1st round, 1994 draft, by Minnesota
Experience: 12 years
Depth chart status: Reserve right cornerback
Note: Washington played but didn't make any tackles in the Chiefs' 31-28 loss to Dallas. The Chiefs (8-5) play at the New York Giants on Saturday at 5 p.m.
6-0, 182
Years at NC State: 2001-04
Acquired: Signed as a free agent
Experience: Rookie
Depth chart status: Reserve cornerback
Notes: Edwards played in the win over the Rams, but did not record any tackles on defense or special teams. The Vikings (8-5) host Pittsburgh Sunday at 1 p.m.
WR Koren Robinson
6-1, 205
Years at NC State: 1999-2000
Acquired: Signed as a free agent on Sept. 6.
Experience: 5 years
Depth chart status: Reserve wide receiver
Notes: Robinson had only one catch in the Vikings' 27-13 victory over St. Louis, but he still had another big day. Robinson scored the Vikings' first touchdown on a 13-yard rush, and Minnesota never trailed in their sixth consecutive win. He also had another big day on special teams with three kickoff returns for 103 yards. His longest of the day was a 61-yard return in the second quarter that set up a Minnesota field goal. Robinson has now moved into fourth in the NFL with a 26.6-yard average.
5-11, 207
Years at NC State: 1998-2001
Acquired: Fourth-round pick of the Vikings in the 2002 NFL Draft.
Experience: 3 years
Depth chart status: Reserve cornerback
Notes: Williams had the second multiple-interception day of his career, picking off two passes against the Rams. He had three interceptions against Detroit in 2003. He now has four interceptions in the Vikings last five games. In the game, Williams had six total tackles, three passes defended and a forced fumble.
TE Sean Berton
6-4, 263
Acquired: Signed off waivers from the Minnesota Vikings in September, 2005
Experience: 3 years
Depth chart status: Reserve tight end
Notes: Berton played on special teams in the Giants' 26-23 victory over Philadelphia Sunday. He did not, however, record a tackle or reception. The Giants (9-4) host Kansas City at 5 p.m. on Saturday.
6-0, 207
Years at NC State: 2000-03
Acquired: Fourth-round draft pick in 2004 NFL Draft
Depth chart status: Reserve wide receiver, punt and kickoff returner
Notes: Cotchery had one reception for nine yards in the Jets' 26-10 win over the Oakland Raiders. Cotchery did not return a punt against the Raiders, but he is now ranked in the Top 10 in the NFL with an 8.7-yard punt return average on 19 attempts this season. The Jets (3-10) play at Miami at 1 p.m. Sunday.
DB Andre Maddox
6-1, 206
Years at NC State: 2001-04
Acquired: Fifth-round pick of the Jets in the 2005 NFL Draft
Depth chart status: On injured reserve.
Notes: Suffered a season-ending knee injury in the preseason and has not played this year.
WR Alvis Whitted
6-0, 185
Years at NC State: 1994-97
Acquired: Signed by Oakland as a free agent in 2002; drafted by Jacksonville, 7th round, 1998.
Experience: 8 years
Depth chart status: Reserve wide receiver.
Notes: Whitted did not catch a pass in the Raiders' 26-10 loss to the Jets, but he did have his second rushing attempt of the season. He had a 27-yard gain for the Raiders (4-9), who host Cleveland at 4:05 p.m. Sunday.
6-5, 228
Years at NC State: 2000-03
Acquired: 1st-round draft pick, 2003, traded from the New York Giants
Experience: 1 year
Depth chart status: Reserve quarterback
Notes: Rivers did not participate in the Chargers' 23-21 loss to Miami. The Chargers (8-5) play at undefeated Indianapolis on Sunday at 1 p.m.
WR Torry Holt
6-0, 190
Years at NC State: 1995-98
Acquired: 1st round draft pick, 1999
Experience: 7 years
Depth chart status: Starting wide receiver
Notes: Holt had 10 catches for 95 yards, but it wasn't enough to save the Rams, who lost 27-13 to the Minnesota Vikings and were mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. Still, Holt became the 35th wide receiver in NFL history to record his 600th reception. He passed Henry Ellard to move into second place in Rams' franchise history with 602, and trails only current teammate Isaac Bruce, who has 804 catches in his career.
6-3, 301
Years at NC State: 2000-03
Acquired: 3rd round pick, 2004 draft
Experience: 1 year
Depth chart status: Starting right tackle
Note: Locklear made his 13th consecutive start of the season in the Seahawks' 41-3 victory over San Francisco Sunday, as the Seahawks won their franchise-record ninth consecutive game. Locklear is a key cog on an offensive line that led the way for NFL rushing leader Shaun Alexander. The NFC West-champion Seahawks (11-2) play at Tennessee at 1 p.m. Sunday.
42-10
LB Corey Smith
6-3, 250
Years at NC State: 1998-2001
Acquired: Signed as a free agent on Dec. 12, 2004, after two years with Tampa Bay; signed as an undrafted free agent with the Buccaneers in 2002.
Experience: 2 years
Depth chart status: Reserve outside linebacker
Note: Smith, a former Wolfpack defensive end now in his third year in the NFL, recorded one solo tackle on defense for San Francisco in its 41-3 loss to Seattle. The 49ers (2-11) play at Jacksonville on Sunday at 4:05 p.m.
OT Chris Colmer
6-5, 310
Years at NC State: 1999-2004
Acquired: 3rd round draft pick, 2005
Experience: Rookie
Depth chart status: Backup right tackle
Notes: Colmer, in his first year in the NFL, was moved to the inactive list in October and has yet to return to action for the Buccaneers (9-4), who upset the Carolina Panthers 20-10 in Charlotte on Sunday. The Buccaneers play at New England at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.
You may contact Tim Peeler at tim_peeler@ncsu.edu.
