Dustin Williams earns second Putnam County football Defensive Player of the Year

Greencastle senior Dustin Williams records a sack during a game in the 2013 season against West Vigo. Williams had 12.0 sacks this season, helping him earn all-state and Putnam County Defensive Player of the Year honors. (Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN)

As the reigning Putnam County Defensive Player of the Year, Greencastle senior Dustin Williams entered the 2013 football season with high expectations.

During his final season of high school football, he exceeded them.

Playing as a defensive tackle, where he was double- or tripled-teamed on nearly every play, Williams had 70 tackles, 17.5 of them for a loss, and he led the county with 12.0 sacks.

Dustin Williams fights through a block for a sack. (Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN)

His dominant play in 2013 earned Williams a second-straight Putnam County Defensive Player of the Year award.

Williams was also among several local athletes recently named to The Associated Press all-state team.

A four-year starter for the Tiger Cubs on the offensive line, Williams said before his senior season that his true passion is defense, where he takes an active approach instead of the passivity that is inherent to offensive linemen.

He spoke about that aggressive approach in a profile with the Banner Graphic in August.

"I just like being able to hit people," Williams said then. "I like finding where the ball is at and getting to it. Most of the time I'm lined up the gap (between center and guard) and I'm trying to shoot off the ball, get my hands on the blocker and read where the offense is going.

"At the same time, I look to see what the backfield is doing, then from whatever I read I just go."

The combination of intellect and physicality helped Williams record at least one sack in eight of the Tiger Cubs 10 games.

It has also made him a back-to-back recipient of the Putnam County Defensive Player of the Year.