By CityBuzzTech 
SALT LAKE CITY, UT — Damon Williamson has signed a professional contract with the Utah Great 8s of the International Arena League (IAL) — and with it, retired the #38 forever.
The number is now #22. The name is Dame 22. And the chapter is professional football.
The IAL launches its inaugural season in April 2026, bringing professional indoor football to cities across North America and Europe. The Utah Great 8s, playing their home games at the Maverik Center in West Valley City, Utah, are one of the league's founding franchises.
For Williamson, this is the moment the entire journey has been building toward. From Chaparral High School in Scottsdale to the plains of North Dakota to the Pac-12 at Arizona State to the HBCU football culture of Clark Atlanta — every stop, every rep, every film session, every early morning was pointed at this moment: a professional contract.
"#22 is the new chapter. Everything before this was preparation. Now it's time to perform." — Damon Williamson
The number change is intentional and symbolic. Dame 38 was the walk-on, the grinder, the prospect. Dame 22 is the professional.
Follow Dame 22: @primetimedame | @primetimedame_
Read more: Dame 22 Signs with Utah Great 8s as IAL Launches Inaugural Season
By CityBuzzTech 
Every number tells part of the story. Here is the complete statistical record of Damon Williamson — from his senior year on the Chaparral Firebirds to his professional debut as Dame 22 with the Utah Great 8s in the IAL.
| Season | GP | Tackles | PD | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 (Senior) | 10 | 33 | 3 | Team Captain, CB/S |
| Transferred from Mountain Pointe HS · Class of 2019 | ||||
| Season | GP | Total Tackles | Solo | TFL | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 (FR) | 11 | 19 | 15 | — | 2 |
| 2020 | Season cancelled — COVID-19 | ||||
| 2021 | — | 15 | — | 0.5 | 2 |
| UMary Total | 11+ | 34 | 15+ | 0.5 | 4 |
| Season | Games | Position | Jersey | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 3 | Safety/DB | #38 | Walk-on, Pac-12 |
| 2023 | 4 | Safety/DB | #38 | Walk-on, Pac-12 |
| Degree earned: B.S. in Communication, ASU | ||||
| Season | Position | Conference | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | DB / Safety | SIAC (HBCU) | Graduate veteran DB |
| Season | League | Jersey | Team Record | Playoff Seed | Notable |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | IAL (Inaugural) | #22 | 9–3 | #2 Seed | Championship Tournament, Las Vegas (Aug 29 Final) |
| Notable game: Apr 29 — 2 tackles recorded. Team wins: 54–13 vs Benjamins; 48–35 vs Rockers | |||||
| Category | Total |
|---|---|
| College Programs | 3 (UMary, ASU, Clark Atlanta) |
| Career Collegiate Tackles | 34+ |
| Career Pass Breakups | 4 |
| Career TFL | 0.5 |
| Pac-12 Games Played | 7 (2022–23, walk-on) |
| Academic Degree | B.S. Communication — Arizona State University |
| Professional League | IAL 2026 — Utah Great 8s #22 |
Numbers capture performance, but they don't capture character. Dame 22's career is defined not just by what he produced statistically, but by what he overcame: a COVID-cancelled season, a cross-country move to walk onto a Pac-12 roster, a graduate season at an HBCU, and ultimately earning a professional contract in a brand new league's inaugural season.
"Every rep is preparation. Every game is a statement." — Damon Williamson, Dame 22
Follow Dame:
Instagram: @primetimedame |
X / Twitter: @primetimedame_
By CityBuzzTech 
The college journey is over. The professional chapter has begun. In 2026, Damon Williamson — now wearing #22 and playing under the callsign Dame 22 — suited up for the Utah Great 8s in the International Arena League (IAL)'s inaugural season.
The International Arena League launched its first-ever season in April 2026, bringing professional indoor football to cities across North America and Europe. The Utah Great 8s, playing their home games at the Maverik Center in the Salt Lake City area, became one of the league's marquee franchises — and Williamson became one of their featured defensive backs.
The number change from #38 to #22 wasn't just administrative. It was intentional — a signal that a new chapter had begun, that the walk-on years were behind him, and that the professional athlete had arrived.
| Stat | Detail |
|---|---|
| League | International Arena League (IAL) — Inaugural Season |
| Team | Utah Great 8s |
| Venue | Maverik Center, Salt Lake City area |
| Jersey | #22 — Dame 22 |
| Position | Defensive Back |
| Regular Season Record | 9–3 (2nd place in IAL standings at time of playoffs) |
| Notable Game (Apr 29) | 2 tackles recorded |
| Season Highlights | 54–13 win vs. Pennsylvania Benjamins; 48–35 win vs. Las Vegas Rockers |
| Rank | Team | W | L |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cincinnati Slingers | 9 | 3 |
| 2 | Utah Great 8s ⬅ Dame 22 | 9 | 3 |
| 3 | Arizona Juggernauts | 6 | 5 |
| 4 | Pennsylvania Benjamins | 4 | 6 |
| 5 | Las Vegas Rockers | 3 | 7 |
| 6 | Euro Stars | 2 | 6 |
The Utah Great 8s entered the double-elimination 2026 IAL Championship Tournament at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas as the #2 seed. The tournament runs through August 29, 2026 — with the Great 8s fighting through a bracket that includes all six IAL franchises.
A key winner's bracket matchup against the Cincinnati Slingers on August 15 set the stage for a deep playoff run. With Dame 22 in the secondary, the Great 8s' defense has been one of the most disruptive units in the league all season.
From walk-on reps in the Pac-12 to a professional jersey in an inaugural season of a new league — Williamson's career arc is a study in persistence, adaptability, and belief. The number 22 isn't just a jersey. It's the declaration of an athlete who refused to accept anyone else's ceiling.
"Every rep is preparation. Every game is a statement." — Damon Williamson, Dame 22
Watch the Great 8s: Full game replays and highlights at the IAL YouTube channel.
Follow Dame: @primetimedame on Instagram | @primetimedame_ on X/Twitter
By CityBuzzTech 
Not every great athlete takes the straightforward path. For Damon Williamson, earning a spot in a Pac-12 program meant doing it the hardest possible way — as a walk-on at Arizona State University, wearing #38.
After two productive seasons at the University of Mary, Williamson set his sights higher. The Pac-12 — one of college football's premier conferences — was the goal. Armed with his Division II resume, his work ethic, and an unshakeable belief in his ability to compete at the highest level, he walked into Tempe and fought for his spot on the Sun Devils' roster.
"Nobody handed me anything at ASU. I earned every rep. That's the only way I know how to do it."
| Season | Games Appeared | Position | Jersey |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 3 | Safety / DB | #38 |
| 2023 | 4 | Safety / DB | #38 |
Every snap a walk-on plays in a Power Five conference is earned against scholarship athletes — players recruited from across the country with coaches who bet their careers on them. That Williamson appeared in 7 games across two Pac-12 seasons is a statement about his ability to compete and execute under pressure.
During his time in Tempe, he also earned a Bachelor of Science in Communication from Arizona State — further proof that his investment in the game was matched by his investment in his future.
#38 became synonymous with Williamson's relentless pursuit at ASU. It was the jersey he wore while grinding through practice reps that most players never see, while studying film late into the night, and while competing in a conference that produces NFL Draft picks every spring. Dame 38 was the foundation. Dame 22 is the evolution.
Follow Dame:
Instagram: @primetimedame |
X: @primetimedame_
