Allegations: Andrew Williams
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This photo was taken at Miami’s team awards banquet following the 2002 season. From left to right are Nevin Shapiro, Vince Wilfork and Andrew Williams.
Nevin Shapiro on Andrew Williams: Play audio
Andrew Williams was one of dozens of Hurricanes players named by Nevin Shapiro in recorded interviews with federal agents. During those interviews, the booster admitted supplying benefits to an array of Miami players from 2002 to 2009. Shapiro alleges he provided multiple extra benefits to Williams during the 2002 season. Among the benefits he claims to have provided:
- Andrew Williams
Position: Defensive end
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Rivals recruiting rank: None. Was ranked one of the top junior college defensive players in the nation before transferring to Miami in 2001.
Miami career: Despite playing only two seasons for the Hurricanes, Williams was a top end rotational player for one of the best defenses in the country. He was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the third round of the 2003 NFL draft. He is currently out of football.
• A pair of Miami Heat tickets.
• A big screen television from BrandsMart USA for Williams' apartment, which he shared with Jerome McDougle and Cornelius Green during the 2002 season.
• Multiple meals at Miami-area restaurants.
• Cash gifts.
• A handful of trips to nightclubs where Shapiro paid for VIP access and drinks.
• Food, drinks and entertainment at Shapiro's $2.7 million Miami Beach home.
Corroborating accounts
• One source corroborated Shapiro's purchase of a big screen television for the apartment shared by Williams, McDougle and Green.
• One source corroborated Williams being entertained at Shapiro's home. Yahoo! Sports has also acquired a photo of Shapiro with Williams, McDougle and Green in his Miami Beach home.
• One source corroborated Shapiro having given Williams cash gifts.
• One source corroborated Williams attending meals paid for by Shapiro. Yahoo! Sports also acquired a photograph of Shapiro, Williams, Jonathan Vilma, D.J. Williams and Cornelius Green at Japanese steakhouse Benihana. Shapiro and a second source said the meal was during the 2002 season and paid for by Shapiro.
In Shapiro's words
• "Andrew Williams was the first player that I actually met at the University of Miami. I gave him a business card at a Rose Bowl team function – the awards banquet prior to them going to the Rose Bowl the year they beat Nebraska for the national title."
• "I think my first actual gift was giving him a pair of Miami Heat tickets at that time. I bought a TV for his apartment. He lived with Jerome McDougle and with Cornelius Green. He was on the boat fishing with us a number of times. He was in the club scene with me a few times. I took him to dinner and lunch a number of times as well."
Nevin Shapiro and a second source said this photo was taken at a dinner paid for by the booster at Japanese steakhouse Benihana during the Hurricanes’ 2002 season. From left to right are Jonathan Vilma, Cornelius Green, Shapiro, Andrew Williams and D.J. Williams.
This photo was taken at Miami’s team awards banquet following the 2002 season. From left to right are Cornelius Green, Nevin Shapiro and Andrew Williams.
Nevin Shapiro and a second source said this photo was taken during the summer of 2002, at the booster’s $2.7 million Miami Beach home. From left to right are Jerome McDougle, Cornelius Green and Andrew Williams.
Photos special to Yahoo! Sports
Williams initially said he only knew of Shapiro because the booster’s name had been put on “one of those buildings or something.” He then said he only met the booster at a team function. After being told that Yahoo! Sports had acquired photos of him in the booster’s house and also at Japanese steakhouse Benihana with him, Williams said he believed he had approval to be with Shapiro on both occasions. “I can’t remember who told me, but I don’t think it was illegal for us to do that [go to Shapiro’s home],” Williams said. “It was something that you were allowed to do.” As for the dinner, Williams said: “I don’t remember that. I probably went. I can’t explain it. I don’t know what it was. I don’t remember that. I guess I was there. You’ve got the picture.”
