Jesse Williams Named “Player of the Month” By International Federation of American Football

By: @LivingCrimson

Alabama defensive end Jesse Williams from Down Under is fast becoming one of the most recognizable faces for the international community enthusiastic about American football. Sixty-two nations around the world play American football and annually their best under-19 players travel to the United States to face off against the under-19 U.S.A. team in The International Bowl.

In 2010, Jesse played for the international team in the inaugural bowl (then known as Team USA vs. the World) sponsored by the International Federation of American Football (IFAF). The World Team lost 17-0.

This year he obtained permission from The University of Alabama to return to the Bowl as Honorary Captain with an inspirational message. Jesse was hoping the Crimson Tide’s winning ways could translate to the World Team. It worked. The international players defeated U.S.A. for the first time ever, with a score 35-29.

The American team featured 44 of the nation’s top senior football players (and one junior). The IFAF World Team selected a 50-man roster from American Samoa, Australia, Austria, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Spain and Sweden.

In honor of Williams’ key role in Alabama’s BCS National Championship victory in January and his motivational appearance at this year’s International Bowl, the IFAF named him the international “Player of the Month”:

---

The Straits Islands football star boasts a truly international resume having played on the first-ever IFAF World Team …. He was also selected to the Australian Junior National Team in 2008 and then went on to play two years of college football at Western Arizona Junior College where he was ranked the number two player in the Rivals.com 2011 JUCO Top 50. Eventually he signed on at mighty Alabama.

[This year’s"] title is the Tide's 14^th in the program history adding to the national championships won in 1925, 1926, 1930, 1934, 1941, 1961, 1965, 1966, 1973, 1978, 1979, 1992, 2009 ….

Even with his success and business schedule at Alabama, Williams showed his support and passion for International football as he traveled to Austin, Texas on February 1 … as the [World Team’s] honorary captain. In that role, he helped inspire a historic victory ….

IFAF is honored to claim Australian Jesse Williams as one of their own, and would like to honor his hard work and BCS title success by naming him the IFAF.org January 2012 Player of the Month.

---

Alumni of the under-19 U.S.A. Team include Michigan State linebacker Chris Norman, Virginia Tech running back David Wilson -- and LSU safety Tyrann Mathieu (2010).

It seems Jesse has figured out how to beat LSU players at all levels – and the World recognizes Alabama’s fourteen national championships.

Roll Tide!

Exit question: What’s the over/under Coach Saban has already scouted all 50 international players?

More videos from IFAF YouTube channel here.

More Bama updates on Twitter at LivingCrimson.