William Freeman Class: Senior Hometown: Swansea, S.C. High School: Swansea H.S. Height / Weight: 6-3 / 235 Position: LB Experience: 3L

Furman: The Southern Conference's premier defensive player who also ranks as one of the top linebackers in NCAA I-AA after earning All-America honors a year ago...was rated the nation's No. 1 linebacker in preseason positional ratings by The Sports Network, which also placed him on their preseason All-America first team...will anchor a Paladin defense that returns six starters...versatile...can play all three linebacking positions, but is slated to occupy the middle this fall...combines exceptional natural ability with an equally strong work ethic...boasts impressive speed and strength...quality leader on and off the field...will serve as a team captain...has already garnered the attention of NFL scouts...has the opportunity to etch his name firmly into Furman football history. 2004 -- Emerged as an outstanding defender, earning consensus Southern Conference Defensive Player-of-the-Year honors, as well as Sports Network, Asscociated Press, and Football Gazzette All-America accolades...was also named South Carolina Player-of-the-Year by both Greenville and Orangeburg Touchdown Clubs and in the spring was named 2004-05 Furman Male Athlete-of-the-Year...played a key role in the Paladins' 10-3, SoCon championship season that included an NCAA I-AA quarterfinal playoff appearance and No. 5 final national ranking...keyed a Paladin defensive unit that ranked first in the SoCon in scoring defense (16.6 ppg)...paced Furman and ranked third in the SoCon with 100 tackles, 11 tackles-for-loss, and 4.5 sacks...saw action in 12 of the Paladins' 13 games, starting at strong side linebacker in the first six games before moving to the middle for four starts and back to his strong side post for the final two contests of the campaign...switch to the middle linebacker followed an injury to veteran Mike Killian...fought through an ankle sprain to match a season high 15 tackles and earn SoCon Player-of-the-Week honors after leading Furman to a 29-22 win over then-second ranked Georgia Southern...exited the lineup early the following week against Wofford (31-24 win) after taking a hit on the injured ankle away from the play...sat out Furman's title clinching 51-31 win over Chattanooga but returned to action for the Paladins' two NCAA I-AA playoff games versus Jacksonville State (49-7 win) and James Madison (14-13 win)...garnered SoCon Defensive Player-of-the-Week honors a league high three times...earned his first tab after totaling 14 tackles, 4.5 tackles-for-loss, and a sack in the 38-6 win over Gardner-Webb...came back the next week to earn his second scroll against Pittsburgh (41-38 overtime loss) with a 15-tackle outing that also included three tackles-for-loss, two sacks, and a forced fumble...had a 23-yard interception return against Western Carolina (31-10 win)...took home Furman's Paladin (MVP) Best Linebacker Awards following the season. 2003 -- Began the season as a key backup to Keito Whetstone at strong side linebacker but moved into the starting lineup in game three versus Richmond after an injury versus Clemson sidelined Whetstone...ended the season with nine starts and 73 tackles, good for third on the squad...also tallied eight tackles-for-loss, a pair of sacks, and two pass deflections...played a central role in Furman leading the SoCon in scoring defense (14.1 ppg), total defense (272.5 ypg), passing defense (132.8 ypg), and passing efficiency defense (97.5 rating)...pass defense average topped NCAA I-AA...captured SoCon Defensive Player-of-the-Week honors after tallying a career high 14 tackles and two tackles-for-loss in his first career start, a 31-17 triumph over Richmond...came back the following week with a 10-tackle performance versus Gardner-Webb (45-0 win)...had five stops, including four for-loss and a sack, in the Paladins' 63-21 season ending win over Chattanooga...took home Furman's C. Johnson Moore Hustle Award for the second straight year following the season. 2002 -- Saw action in all 12 games as a backup linebacker and member of special teams...totaled 28 tackles and a sack...notched a season high six tackles against VMI (55-28 win)...had a sack for a loss of 11 yards in a 35-7 win over Chattanooga in the regular season finale...took home Furman's C. Johnson Moore Hustle Award at season's end. 2001 -- Member of scout team...awarded redshirt and extra year of eligibility.

High School: 2001 graduate of Swansea High School...football coach was B. Stroud...saw action at linebacker and tailback...three-time all-region selection...named all-area by The State and Orangeburg Times & Democrat after rushing 236 times for 1,445 yards, and 16 touchdowns during the 2000 season...also notched 62 tackles and five sacks as senior...had 682 yards rushing, five touchdowns, and 55 tackles as a junior...outstanding wrestler...posted a 40-4 record and was state champion in 189-pound class as a junior...went 40-0 as a senior on the way to winning a second straight state title in the 171-pound class.

Personal: Full name is William Cain Freeman...son of Robert and Roslyn Freeman, Jr...born May 1, 1983, in Charleston, South Carolina...history major.

2003 Southern Conference Player-of-the-Week (vs. Richmond)

2004 Furman Most Valuable Player

2004 Furman Best Linebacker

2004 Southern Conference Defensive Player-of-the-Week (vs. Garnder-Webb)

2004 Southern Conference Defensive Player-of-the-Week (vs. Pittsburgh)

2004 Southern Conference Defensive Player-of-the-Week (vs. Georgia Southern)

2004 All-Southern Conference (1st Team/Media)

2004 All-Southern Conference (1st Team/Coaches)

2004 Southern Conference Defensive Player-of-the-Year (Media)

2004 Southern Conference Defensive Player-of-the-Year (Coaches)

2004 Sports Network All-America (2nd Team)

2004 Football Gazette All-America (2nd Team)

2004 Associated Press All-America (3rd Team)

2004 South Carolina Player-of-the-Year (Greenville Touchdown Club)

2004 South Carolina Player-of-the-Year (Orangeburg Touchdown Club)

2005 Sports Network Preseason All-America (1st Team)