Ole Miss Football: The GOATS Of Ole Miss, Top 10 All-Time Rebels

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Nov 20, 2016; Cincinnati, OH, USA; A view of a Buffalo Bills helmet with the Salute to Service logo while sitting on the bench at Paul Brown Stadium. The Bills won 16-12. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /

Gentle Ben Williams, DE

Robert Jerry ‘Ben’ Williams was born in Yazoo City Mississippi in 1954. In 1972 he would be the first African-American football player at Ole Miss. Nicknamed Gentle Ben by his teammates, because of his calm and easygoing demeanor off the field, he was anything but on the field.

As a defensive end for the Rebels, Williams was a beast. Williams would garner 1st Team All-SEC honors in 1973, 74, 75. In his 4 seasons he would account for 377 tackles, which ranks 4th all-time in Ole Miss football record books.

In 1976, Ben Williams would be drafted in the 3rd round by the Buffalo Bills. He would play in the Bills organization for 9 seasons and was selected to the 1982 Pro Bowl.

He makes Honorable Mention as the only Ole Miss football player to ever wrestle a live bear, which wasn’t a mascot. The match took place mid-court during halftime of a Ole Miss basketball game.

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