AT SAN JOSE STATE: In his fifth season with the Spartans... Tops the 2017 opening fall depth chart at a linebacker position... 35 games played and nine starts in his first three active seasons... Has a single-game career best eight tackles against Colorado State (11/1/14)... First joined the team for 2013 fall preseason practice.
2016: Played in 11 games and was a starter four times... Started the first three games of the season and at San Diego State (10/21)... Credited with 33 tackles and 1.0 tackles for loss for the season... Had his season-high seven tackles in a start against Utah (9/17) and in a reserve role at Boise State (11/4)... Had his only tackle for loss of the season against Utah... Was in on six tackles in his start against San Diego State.
2015: Appeared in 12 games and was a starter at Air Force (9/12), at Auburn (10/3) and San Diego State (10/17)... Credited with 32 tackles and 2.0 tackles for loss for the season... Increased his tackle by nine from his freshman season... Had at least one tackle in 11 of the 12 games he played... A season-high seven tackles and his season totals of 2.0 tackles for loss and one forced fumble at Air Force... Also played on some special teams.
2014: Played in 12 games and was a starting linebacker in the Colorado State (11/1) and Utah State (11/21) contests... Finished the season with 23 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble... Was credited with at least one tackle in eight of 12 games... Career-high eight tackles, a tackle for loss and a forced fumble in his first start vs. Colorado State ...Had five tackles and an assisted tackle for loss in his other start at Utah State ...Also saw action on special teams.
2013: Completed a redshirt season.
HIGH SCHOOL: Lettered in football (Coach Jay Braun) at Oak Grove High in San Jose... Led the team averaging 8.6 tackles per game and 0.6 sacks per contest as a senior... Also was a member of the basketball and track and field teams.
MORE ON WILLIAM: A sociology major... Would like to become a police detective... His older brother, Onyeka Ossai, was a linebacker on the 2001, 2002 and 2003 San Jose State football teams... He is a native of San José.
| DEFENSIVE STATISTICS | G | UT | AT | TOTAL | TFL/Yds. | SK | FF | INT | DEF |
| 2013...Redshirt | |||||||||
| 2014...FR | 12 | 11 | 12 | 23 | 2.5/3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2015...SO | 12 | 19 | 13 | 32 | 2.0/7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 2016...JR | 11 | 12 | 21 | 33 | 1.0/1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| CAREER | 35 | 42 | 46 | 88 | 5.5/11 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 |