P.J. Williams faces DUI charge
— -- Former Florida State defensive back P.J. Williams, a projected early-round pick in the upcoming NFL draft, was arrested early Friday in Tallahassee by the Florida State University Police Department and charged with driving under the influence.
According to the arrest report, Williams, whose legal name is Kenneth Williams Jr., was pulled over shortly after 3 a.m. after stopping during a green light at an intersection and then making an illegal left turn even though there was a posted sign prohibiting a turn there. The officer pulled him over after he swerved over the lane divider several times.
Court records show the officer observed Williams' eyes were red and his speech was slurred. Williams reportedly told the officer he was returning from a local bar and he played football for FSU and he "just wanted to go home."
He was driving on a suspended license, according to court records. Williams told the officer he was unaware of that.
Williams refused to submit to a field sobriety test or breathe test, the report said. The officer then arrested Williams and charged him with DUI. Williams was released from Leon County Jail on $500 bail later Friday morning. Jail records didn't list an attorney.
In November, Williams was the subject of one in a series of New York Times stories that investigated whether authorities have sometimes gone easy on Florida State football players accused of wrongdoing. Williams -- again driving without a suspended license -- was one of two FSU players involved in a hit-and-run accident in October, with both players fleeing the scene before returning about 20 minutes later. He received only two traffic tickets and was not tested for alcohol or asked if he had been drinking, the Times reported.
Williams, the most valuable player in last season's BCS National Championship, declared for the draft after his junior season. Earlier this week he participated at Florida State's pro day.
Williams needed to improve upon his 4.57 time in the 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine, and at pro day Tuesday he likely registered a time somewhere in the 4.4-second range. Some had him clocked as low as 4.37. Williams also posted a 41-inch vertical and broad jumped 11 feet, 3.5 inches.
Mel Kiper Jr. ranks Williams as the fifth-ranked cornerback prospect in this draft, after Trae Waynes of Michigan State, Kevin Johnson of Wake Forest, Marcus Peters of Washington and Byron Jones of UConn.
"I felt like I did really good, improved on some things from the combine and came out here to compete," Williams said after his workout.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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