ATLANTA -- An off-the-field incident can often derail a season for a player, or even end a career. But for Alabama linebacker Tim Williams, a September arrest provided a wake-up call.

The week of the Kentucky game, Williams was arrested for carrying a pistol without a permit, a misdemeanor charge, by the University of Alabama Police Department. And as a result, he did not play during the first two quarters of the Week 5 conference game.

Since then, however, he’s been able to play carefree, havoc-wreaking football.

“Honestly, the situation before the Kentucky game, that grounded me,” Williams said after the Crimson Tide’s 54-16 win over Florida in the SEC Championship Game. “That just showed me that no matter what you go through in life -- with the support of teammates and Coach (Nick) Saban, an awesome mentor, and things like that, them supporting me -- and ever since then I’ve just felt like I can’t be stopped.”

(Make sure you're in the know by signing up for FREE Alabama newsletter!)

Williams has registered seven sacks, 14 tackles for loss and nine quarterback hurries in the 8.5 games since his two-quarter suspension in September, bringing his senior season-long totals to 8.5 sacks, 15.5 tackles for loss and 12 quarterback hurries.

Before the game against the Wildcats, the edge rusher addressed his teammates, accepting the blame for his actions and apologizing for any distractions his arrest created before the second SEC game of the season. And that allowed him to play with no guilt.

“That’s me opening up, man, just being who I am,” Williams said. “Sometimes people need to fall to learn how to get back up again. That’s the main thing that Jon Allen, Cam Robinson, Reuben Foster, that’s why we go out there and just dominate. We play for each other. We know this is our team, and through anything, we’re gonna make sure we bring a W back because we worked too hard.”

A recipient of Alabama’s Defensive Achievement Award, which is presented to players who played a critical role in the effectiveness of the unit, Williams has been a terror off the edge. But what is it that goes through his mind when he’s rushing the passer?

“Eat. Destroy. A predator. A conquerer,” Williams said. “I really feel like when I come off the edge, I can’t be stopped. I just have that much confidence in my skill, and I have that much confidence to where next week I’m gonna put in enough work to improve.”

After a rocky start to what was supposed to a dominating senior season, Williams has turned it around into exactly that ahead of the Tide’s third straight playoff run.

“Honestly, it’s been a great year for me because last year I was a role player,” Williams said. “This year, my teammates and Coach Saban just gave me an opportunity to be a leader and be out there every down. So the year’s been great. I know what I can do, I know what my team wants me to do, so it’s been great.”

Enjoy VIP access to BamaOnLine for FREE until Jan. 1, 2017 with this trial.