JJ Williams (soccer)

JJ Williams
Williams at a Columbus Crew SC event in 2019.
Personal information
Full name Jerome Williams Jr.[1]
Date of birth (1997-01-04) January 4, 1997 (age 27)
Place of birth Clovis, New Mexico, United States
Height 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)[1]
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
Rhode Island FC
Number 9
Youth career
2007–20?? Capital City Streaks
0000–2016 Vestavia Hills SC
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2018 Kentucky Wildcats 57 (24)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016 Birmingham Hammers 5 (0)
2017 Reading United 7 (1)
2018 Dayton Dutch Lions 12 (7)
2019 Columbus Crew 7 (0)
2019Birmingham Legion (loan) 21 (7)
2020 Atlanta United 1 (0)
2020Atlanta United 2 (loan) 1 (0)
2020Birmingham Legion (loan) 4 (0)
2021 Birmingham Legion 27 (5)
2022 FC Tulsa 22 (9)
2022 Phoenix Rising 13 (3)
2023 Tampa Bay Rowdies 31 (12)
2024– Rhode Island FC 0 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of December 4, 2023

Jerome Williams Jr. (born January 4, 1998) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a forward for USL Championship club Rhode Island FC. He previously appeared at the semi-professional level for Birmingham Hammers, Reading United, and Dayton Dutch Lions and as a professional with Columbus Crew, Atlanta United, Atlanta United 2, Birmingham Legion, FC Tulsa, Phoenix Rising, and Tampa Bay Rowdies.

Although he was born in Clovis, New Mexico, Williams grew up in Montgomery, Alabama and attended Alabama Christian Academy. After scoring 122 goals while in high school, he spent three years playing at the University of Kentucky. Williams was a first team all-American and the C-USA Men's Soccer Player of the Year in 2018. He also spent time during the collegiate offseason with Birmingham Hammers, Reading United, and Dayton Dutch Lions. Williams signed a Generation Adidas contract with Major League Soccer ahead of the 2019 MLS SuperDraft and was selected in the first round by Columbus Crew. He spent most of his rookie year on loan to Birmingham Legion before being waived by the Crew ahead of the 2020 season, eventually finding his way to Atlanta United.

  1. ^ a b JJ Williams at WorldFootball.net