When Bryan Harsin was fired from his job as Auburn head coach at the end of the October, Carnell "Cadillac" Williams made a lot of sense in the interim.
He had been with the program as a running backs coach since 2019, he was beloved by the Tigers and their fans from his time there as a running back, and he wasn't the retread we often see when a college coach gets fired.
Williams had a decent if short NFL career as a running back, becoming a feature back for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before ending his career in one last ride with the Rams. But his career at Auburn was truly spectacular. He trailed only Bo Jackson in school rushing yards, a name that it seems will never be caught within the program.
Williams has gone 2-1 to start his young coaching career, but he gets his biggest yet Saturday in the Iron Bowl against No. 8 Alabama during Rivalry Weekend. Williams will look to make a statement and help Auburn play spoiler this weekend. While no mean feat, Auburn has done it before.
When did Cadillac Williams play at Auburn?
Williams played at Auburn from 2001 to 2004, and he picked up 45 touchdowns in his time there.
Williams' recruitment was a turning point for the Tigers. He was recruited by the entire SEC and had been committed to Tennessee, but Tommy Tuberville eventually flipped the script with a visit.
MORE: Lane Kiffin to Auburn rumors heat up as Ole Miss prepares for Egg Bowl
Auburn didn't win a national championship with Williams on the roster, but they did win three of the four bowl games he was with the team for, including the Sugar Bowl his senior year over Virginia Tech.
They finished second in the country that season.
Cadillac Williams Auburn stats
Williams was Auburn's second-leading all-time rusher by the time he was done.
He was a volume back, sucking up carries and averaging 5.2 yards per carry over the course of his career. He was injury-riddled as a sophomore in 2002 and in 2004 he shared carries with Ronnie Brown, creating one of the most formidable one-two punches in the country.
College stats
| Year | G | ATT | YDS | AVG | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 9 | 120 | 614 | 5.1 | 6 |
| 2002 | 7 | 141 | 745 | 5.3 | 10 |
| 2003 | 13 | 241 | 1,307 | 5.4 | 17 |
| 2004 | 13 | 239 | 1,165 | 4.9 | 12 |
| Career | 42 | 741 | 3,831 | 5.2 | 45 |
Williams' stats pop off the page, and his place at Auburn was cemented before he joined as a running back coach in 2019.
MORE: Auburn vs. Alabama betting odds and prediction
Cadillac Williams NFL career
Williams was drafted by the Buccaneers in the 2005 NFL Draft, and he made an immediate impact.
He became the first running back in NFL history to start his career with three straight 100-plus-yard rushing games, signaling a promising start to his NFL career.
In 2007, however, the injury train left the station and never came back. A torn patellar tendon he suffered hindered him going into 2008, but shortly after coming off the PUP list he tore the tendon again, this time in the other knee.
He put together an excellent season in 2009, but he was eventually phased out by the Buccaneers. After one season with the Rams in 2011, his NFL career was effectively over.
Why did Auburn hire Cadillac Williams as running back coach?
Williams was hired by Auburn in January 2019 by then-Auburn coach Gus Malzahn.
Before coaching at Auburn, Williams had spent time in the same position at Henderson State, West Georgia, and IMG Academy.
"Carnell Williams is one of Auburn’s all-time greats and we’re excited to welcome him home,” Malzahn said in a statement at the time. “Cadillac is a great fit for our program. He understands and cares deeply for this university and the Auburn football program, while bringing a great knowledge of the game. He knows first-hand what it takes to be a successful running back at the highest level and has a tremendous work ethic. We’re glad to have him at Auburn and know he will be a great coach and mentor to our running backs.”
MORE: College Football National Championship, Playoff Odds
“One of the main reasons I got into coaching was to give back and serve others," Williams said in 2019. "I want to help players reach their ultimate goal and steer them the right way on and off the field. I’m not sure there’s a better place I can do that than at Auburn, where I’m forever indebted. I’m excited to get to work. I can’t wait to meet the players and staff, get involved in the community and help get Auburn to the championship level year in and year out that we know we are capable of.”
Why was Cadillac Williams named interim coach?
Auburn gave Williams the interim job as a long-tenured member of the Auburn staff, a program legend, and someone who the players have appeared to love in his role.
"Emotions were everywhere because, again, Coach Harsin gave me the opportunity to stay on staff, to be part of this thing," Williams said after he was hired, per USA Today. "It was a tough day for me, but I had the opportunity to address the team and just, wow. I’m honored to have this opportunity. Those players, they were excited. We’re just talking it one day at a time (laughs). This is not ideal, but man, we are definitely looking forward to this challenge. "
It was Williams' speech after defeating Texas A&M in Jordan-Hare Stadium this season, however, that led to the college football becoming enraptured with the idea of "interim" being dropped from Williams' name.
“I’m so appreciative of this Auburn family,” he said after the game. “These fans showed up and showed out. The energy. The atmosphere here. I’m just appreciative for this institution. I’m forever indebted to it. I love serving these young men. This coaching staff is bigger than me. It’s just not my show. We are together. We family. So, I’m excited."
.@CoachCaddy24's first win as the head coach of @AuburnFootball 👏
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) November 13, 2022
This is the AUBURN FAMILY 🐅 pic.twitter.com/UbAHWkliiS
Whether or not Williams earns the full-time job remains to be seen. But he's trending in the right direction with two straight wins. If Auburn is able to upset Alabama Saturday, however, Williams may well force the Tigers' hand.