ECU receiver Jimmy Williams granted extra year of eligibility

The East Carolina football team got some much-needed good news on Tuesday with word that the American Athletic Conference has granted senior wide receiver Jimmy Williams with a medical hardship waiver that will allow him to return for the 2017 season. Williams played two games for the Pirates during his true freshman season of 2013 before suffering a season-ending foot injury in a win against Middle Tennessee State. A 5-foot-11, 189-pound native of Washington, N.C., Williams was ECU’s third-leading receiver with 45 catches. His 818 yards were second on the team. He was also the Pirates’ top big-play threat a team-leading average of 18.8 yards per catch that included touchdown grabs of 75 and 70 yards in a loss to Virginia Tech on Sept. 24. Williams has amassed 87 catches for 1,275 yards and 11 touchdowns in his 30-game career at ECU. His return next season will at least somewhat offset the loss of FBS career and single-season record-holder Zay Jones to coach Scottie Montgomery’s passing attack.