As Derrick Williams sneaked his way behind blockers Saturday, he crossed the 50-yard line, ducking teal jerseys, with two objectives.

One: Don't get tackled by the kicker. His teammates would bust on him for the rest of the season if he did.

Two, the real objective: Regain the momentum for Penn State.

Coastal Carolina had just scored to pull within a touchdown and Williams' intent was to take the air out of the Chanticleers' sails.

He succeeded.

Williams' versatility was on full display with his electric 89-yard kick return for a touchdown. Combine those yards with his two catches, two rushes and one more return, Williams racked up a shiny total of 165 all-purpose yards.

In three years, Williams has been a chameleon of sorts for the Nittany Lions. He has evolved from a high school quarterback, to a receiver/running back/quarterback/returner hybrid.

"Coming out of high school I was a quarterback," Williams said after Saturday's game. "I never played a snap at receiver."

Williams was the most highly touted player Penn State landed in 2005, but since then, he hasn't put up the numbers his counterparts, as former walk-on Deon Butler and an undersized Jordan Norwood have.

But Butler and Norwood will be the first to say it -- Derrick Williams is still Penn State's most dangerous asset.

"Even if Derrick doesn't get as involved offensively in the game, or on offense if he doesn't have a five-catch game, he's still a guy you have to account for on both special teams, punt and kick [return]," Butler said. "Every time we're vying for field position, he's a guy that can always take it to the house. Just like today. We needed a big play today."

He carried as many times as he caught the ball during his freshman season in 2005. Two years ago it was more of the same. Williams was a threat to run and catch with 36 rushes combined with 40 receptions.

Last season, Williams primarily played receiver, only carrying the ball 16 times. He only caught three touchdown passes.

While his numbers dropped, the statistics that tell of Williams' impact on the field are everywhere.

Last season, Williams averaged six touches per game in nine Penn State wins. Williams got the ball just two times for every loss. Excluding the defeat at the hands of Ohio State, Penn State lost its other three games by an average of just five points.

In 2006, the numbers were also revealing. Six touches per win, one less for a loss.

Big Ten defenses prepared for Williams nonstop in the days leading up to their games against Penn State.

That was 2005, before Williams broke his arm.

Ohio State cornerback Malcolm Jenkins has covered Williams extensively throughout his career. He said that Williams with his skill set demands attention and respect on the field.

"When he first got there, our coaches put so much emphasis on [him]," Jenkins said. "They use him a lot different. They would give him the ball out of the backfield, throwing him the ball, just all kinds of things trying to get him the ball. Wherever he was, that's where the focus of the defense was."

But last season, Jenkins said, the focus wasn't as much on Williams.

"I think we've kind of relaxed our game plan now," Jenkins said. "I think they stopped using him as much in [different] situations. He plays a lot more receiver now. Although a lot of people don't think he's produced like he should, he's still a competitor that we game plan for and somebody that needs to be respected."

After his arm injury during his true freshman campaign, Williams' return in 2006 was met with criticism. He scored only two touchdowns and caught only 40 passes. Less than the duo of Butler and Norwood.

Fans thought Williams was tackled too easily.

He was accused of being a soft runner by many in the press.

The reality was, Williams said, teams knew he was getting the ball.

Williams said he could feel the eyes of the defense bearing down on him when he would line up in the backfield. Before the ball was snapped, 11 defenders had already committed to stopping him. He was a goner.

"If you can think about it and say, 'When Derrick's in the backfield, he's going to get the ball,' then definitely with guys watching tape and everything, they can figure it out too," Williams said.

His impact -- not as obvious then -- was still huge. Just ask Butler, who's caught 97 balls and surpassed numerous Nittany Lion receiving records over the past three seasons.

Butler has become Penn State's deep threat, Norwood the shifty catch-man who can find a hole in a zone, while Williams has been the do-it-all player who has often blown his own cover for the expense of the team.

"After our freshman year, really, it just happened, unfortunately, he got hurt and myself and Jordan stepped up really big that year," Butler said. "I think after that, teams really started respecting all three of us. They account for him when he moves into the backfield in different positions, but teams have pretty much played us evenly because I think they feel that either one of us, all three of us can hurt them either way."

Williams' interviewing style isn't as flashy as his end zone celebrations. He's succinct, quiet. When he's sitting with a microphone in front of him, it's a whole different picture than when he's leaping on one foot in the end zone, pointing with both fingers to the upper deck of Beaver Stadium.

He says what he needs to say. It was a surprise when he opened up on Saturday and admitted that during his freshman year he cried in the huddle because he wanted to win so badly.

Williams, now a captain, doesn't cry anymore in the huddle, but things haven't changed. He still wants the ball, even if the defense knows he's going to get it.

"I hope that I can make the plays that I can make when I have the ball," he said.