AUBURN, Ala. – Cornelius Williams, who has spent the previous six years coaching wide receivers at Troy, has been named wide receivers coach at Auburn, head coach Bryn Harsin announced Saturday. Williams, who won four Sun Belt championships and helped lead Troy to three bowl games as a player, was also the passing game coordinator at his alma mater the last two seasons.
"Cornelius is a great fit for the staff we are assembling," Harsin said. "He's a strong teacher of the game on the field and has been developing recruiting ties in Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi during his time at Troy. As a Birmingham native, and his state of Alabama roots, he understands what Auburn football is all about and the type of player and high character individuals we want bring in and develop. I'm excited to see his energy and passion for the game guide our wide receiver room."
During his time at Troy, Williams' receivers earned 14 All-Sun Belt honors including a pair of first team selections by Emanuel Thompson and most recently Damion Willis and Kaylon Geiger.
This past season, Troy's passing attack was 21st nationally in passing yards per game (290.2) and Geiger was 30th nationally with 752 receiving yards. In 2019, outside receivers Reggie Todd and Khalil McClain combined for 83 receptions, 12 touchdowns and 1228 yards. As a unit, the receivers topped the 100-yard mark 11 different times to shatter the Troy school record that previously stood at seven games.
"I'm very thankful to Coach Harsin for the opportunity to join his staff at Auburn," Williams said. "I'm humbled and very appreciative that he believes in me. I know what kind of culture that Coach Harsin wants to build at Auburn with his thought process, attention to detail and desire to work hard. I've worked with coaches like that in the past and I love that culture and approach. I'm hungry to get to work and continue to grow and develop under his leadership. Growing up in this state, I know Auburn is a special place and I can't wait to be a part of it and get to work."
As an offense, the Trojans topped the 500-yard mark in total offense on six different occasions to tie the program's DI record and scored 35-plus points eight times; the second most in program history and fourth most in Sun Belt Conference history. The Trojans finished ninth nationally in passing offense (313.2), 25th in scoring offense (33.8) and 18th in total offense (456.3).
Thompson led the Sun Belt with 80 receptions in 2016 -- the second most in a season in Troy history -- and finished third with 820 receiving yards. Deondre Douglas, who would earn three All-Sun Belt honors in his career, tied for third with 60 catches and 740 yards.
In 2018, Willis finished with the second most receiving yards in a game in school history after a 10-catch, 213-yard performance against Louisiana and ranked ninth nationally with seven catches of 40-plus yards despite missing a pair of games.
Troy finished the 2016 season 10-3 with a victory in the Dollar General Bowl, the first top-25 ranking in school and Sun Belt Conference history and the best win-improvement in the country. In 2017, Troy set a school FBS record for wins as the Trojans finished the season 11-2 with a Sun Belt championship, New Orleans Bowl title and a victory at No. 22 LSU.
Williams was a four-year letterman for the Trojans from 2006-09 and helped lead Troy to a combined 26-3 Sun Belt Conference record. He finished his Trojan career with 63 receptions for 764 yards and seven touchdowns.
Williams made his return to Troy after spending the previous two seasons as the wide receivers coach at UAB (2014) and Jacksonville State (2013).
UAB averaged 33.2 points and 431.8 yards of total offense in Williams' lone season coaching the Blazers. Both totals were good for fourth in the offense-heavy Conference USA and wide receiver J.J. Nelson was a fifth-round selection of the Arizona Cardinals in the 2015 NFL Draft.
Williams helped orchestrate a monumental turnaround at Jacksonville State as the Gamecocks went from a 6-5 team prior to his arrival to advancing to the FCS Quarterfinals. Additionally, wide receiver Josh Barge earned freshman All-America honors following the season.
Prior to Jacksonville State, Williams coached the wide receivers at North Alabama in 2012 and Murray State in 2011. In 2011, Murray State led the Ohio Valley Conference in scoring offense at 37.1 points per game, total offense with 460.9 yards per game and passing offense with 308.6 yards per game.
Williams was an offensive graduate assistant coach at South Alabama in 2010, helping the program to a 10-0 record and offensively averaged 439 yards and 41.3 points per game.
A standout at Hoover High School, Williams helped lead the Buccaneers to four consecutive Alabama 6A state championships and a combined 56-3 record. He was named all-state his senior year after setting a school record with 77 receptions for 1,300 yards and 18 touchdowns. He was selected to play in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game and was ranked 16th in The Birmingham News' Super Seniors.
Williams graduated from Troy University in 2010 with a degree in sport and fitness management. He is married to the former Kiley Miller from Little Rock, Ark., and the couple has two daughters, Ellis and Wynn, and one son, Maverick.