Thank goodness -- or is it Tank goodness? -- for that back injury, or Stanford would not have one of the best defensive backs in the Pacific-10 Conference and Tank Williams would not be having the time of his life at one of the nation's finest schools.

"It's weird how things work out," Williams said with a wide grin. "I still wonder about that."

The Cardinal isn't complaining.

Williams, a senior free safety, is expected to anchor the defense as Stanford competes for the Pac-10 title. He was a second-team all-conference pick last season and could be Stanford's best defensive back since John Lynch in 1992.

"I don't think a lot of people knew who he was coming into last season, but he left a big impression," Stanford secondary coach Denny Schuler said. "The nice thing is, he has cornerback speed, so we can line him up against a receiver. He's the prototype safety NFL teams are looking for."

Stanford plucked Williams out of tiny Bay St. Louis, Miss. -- in part because of assistant coach Phil Zacharias' keen recruiting eye, in part because a back injury limited Williams' effectiveness as a senior and scared off Southeastern Conference schools.

When it came time to pick a college, Williams had two options -- Stanford and Central Florida. For a member of the National Honor Society, it was a no-brainer. It did not take him long to adjust to the fast-paced, high-tech, hob-nobbing lifestyle of Palo Alto.

"I didn't know what Stanford was until my junior year," said Williams, whose given name is Clevan.

"But they stuck with me through that back injury. At first, I was hesitant because of the distance. I grew up watching SWAC teams and LSU. But I love it here."

Watch for the Cardinal to make optimum use of Williams' versatility -- especially his blitzing and coverage skills, which are invaluable against the west coast and spread offenses that dominate the Pac-10.

"A lot of times you have to protect your safety," Schuler said. "There are guys who can play the run but aren't quick enough to play the pass, or guys who can play the pass but aren't big enough to play the run. Tank can do both."

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