Former UM DT Lester Williams Passes at Age 58

[CoachDannyMiaz]

Saw these tweets from Matt Porter on his passing.
Haven't seen it elsewhere but if true, that's gotta be rough.
58 is not 28 but its still young in the grand scheme of things.

Lester was a Dominant defender at Carol City in the mid 70s, at Miami from 78-81 and played with the Patriots, Chargers and Seahawks.

Condolences to him and his.

​

 

[Rellyrell]

Man, too many fallen soldiers from our school. Jeez.

 

[TemplarCane]

RIP.

Lester Williams was sometimes left out of the Canes DT - U conversation, but started the trend.

 

[gatorsSUCK!]

RIP, prayers to family

 

[Memnon]

UM Hall Of Famer & true Cane Legend #RIPLesterWilliams

 

[Samson Doyo]

Sad news. It's been too many Cane greats lately. RIP Lester. Gone too soon. Peace.

 

[mianjomar]

He and Bob Nelson were an amazing DT duo in the first of Miami's great 1980's defenses. Other names on that defense were Jim Burt, Fred Marion, and James Jefferson all NFL long termers.. I loved that team. Lester was the crown Jewel though. I believe he was the number one recruit in the country.

 

[NJshoreCane]

Very sad.
RIP Lester.
A great DT and could hit a softball a mile.
My condolences to his family.

 

[arizonacane]

CK and LW decals on the helmets this year.

 

[Cuttercane]

If I remember correctly, his choosing the U was a big deal. He was one of the first national recruits to pick Miami.

 

[Canefam]

RIP and may God give strength to his family!

 

[redcane]

An all time great. RIP Lester.

 

[supersaiyanshel]

This due was an OG. Nothing but respect for him and guys like Ottis Anderson (lil bit before) who came to The U when we were an after thought.

 

[MedleyCane]

RIP.

Lester Williams was sometimes left out of the Canes DT - U conversation, but started the trend.

Not really.
Gary Dunn, Eddie Edwards, Don Latimer and several others who preceded him started the trend.
But Lester was a very good player at UM, and he was part of that first historical class at UM filled with
5 star studs.
He was rated the no.1 DL in high school.
He was 2 years ahead of me in HS, and I remember as a sophomore watching him play against my HML team
and I was wondering how this guy could be a HS player.
He had as close to an NFL body for a HS player that I ever saw.
During track season he came over our school to throw shot, and dude was running around the track warming
up, and he looked like a gazelle.
So happy I was in JV and didn't have to face him.
LOL.
But so sad to hear about his passing.
Too young.
RIP Mr. Williams.

 

[MedleyCane]

If I remember correctly, his choosing the U was a big deal. He was one of the first national recruits to pick Miami.

Once he chose UM the floodgates seemed to open in our favor for other big-time recruits.
I remember reading a recruiting article in one of the local papers regarding his official visit to UM the Saturday after
they won a playoff game against Boca Raton, and one of the other players in that visit was none other than
Mark Richt who was the QB on that losing team.

That Carol City HS DLine was huge. In addition to Williams, they had Johnny Lewis who played for Oklahoma
and NJ Giants plus a very good James Gilbert, who played DT at FSU.

 

[mianjomar]

RIP.

Lester Williams was sometimes left out of the Canes DT - U conversation, but started the trend.

Not really.
Gary Dunn, Eddie Edwards, Don Latimer and several others who preceded him started the trend.
But Lester was a very good player at UM, and he was part of that first historical class at UM filled with
5 star studs.
He was rated the no.1 DL in high school.
He was 2 years ahead of me in HS, and I remember as a sophomore watching him play against my HML team
and I was wondering how this guy could be a HS player.
He had as close to an NFL body for a HS player that I ever saw.
During track season he came over our school to throw shot, and dude was running around the track warming
up, and he looked like a gazelle.
So happy I was in JV and didn't have to face him.
LOL.
But so sad to hear about his passing.
Too young.
RIP Mr. Williams.

And of course Rubin Carter

 

[canefrank]

May he Rest in Peace! I remember his commitment to us, it was the first Big local recruit to stay home and take us seriously, he opened the recruiting gates for the 80s, other kids emulated him.

 

[CaneFan79]

Way too soooooon. RIP

 

[MedleyCane]

RIP.

Lester Williams was sometimes left out of the Canes DT - U conversation, but started the trend.

Not really.
Gary Dunn, Eddie Edwards, Don Latimer and several others who preceded him started the trend.
But Lester was a very good player at UM, and he was part of that first historical class at UM filled with
5 star studs.
He was rated the no.1 DL in high school.
He was 2 years ahead of me in HS, and I remember as a sophomore watching him play against my HML team
and I was wondering how this guy could be a HS player.
He had as close to an NFL body for a HS player that I ever saw.
During track season he came over our school to throw shot, and dude was running around the track warming
up, and he looked like a gazelle.
So happy I was in JV and didn't have to face him.
LOL.
But so sad to hear about his passing.
Too young.
RIP Mr. Williams.

And of course Rubin Carter

Yes, of course, plus Jim Burt, a very good Don Smith, who was a pretty good player in the NFL (Falcons) and Charles Cook.

 

[TemplarCane]

RIP.

Lester Williams was sometimes left out of the Canes DT - U conversation, but started the trend.

Not really.
Gary Dunn, Eddie Edwards, Don Latimer and several others who preceded him started the trend.
But Lester was a very good player at UM, and he was part of that first historical class at UM filled with
5 star studs.
He was rated the no.1 DL in high school.
He was 2 years ahead of me in HS, and I remember as a sophomore watching him play against my HML team
and I was wondering how this guy could be a HS player.
He had as close to an NFL body for a HS player that I ever saw.
During track season he came over our school to throw shot, and dude was running around the track warming
up, and he looked like a gazelle.
So happy I was in JV and didn't have to face him.
LOL.
But so sad to hear about his passing.
Too young.
RIP Mr. Williams.

And of course Rubin Carter

+

Yes, of course, plus Jim Burt, a very good Don Smith, who was a pretty good player in the NFL (Falcons) and Charles Cook.

Yes, you're correct. I was trying to remember Eddie Edwards, 'the guy the Bengals drafted', and completely neglected Burt, Latimer, and Carter.

Thank you.