Conway, S.C. – Two Coastal Carolina Chanticleers in Anthony Chesley and Malcolm Williams have both received a chance at NFL careers with invites to rookie minicamps. Chesley signed as an undrafted free agent with the Cincinnati Bengals and will report to the Bengals’ minicamp, while Williams received an invitational from the New York Giants.

A three-year starter at defensive back for the Chants, Chesley graduated in the summer of 2017 with his a bachelor’s degree in public health. A four-time member of the Coastal Carolina Football’s Team Leadership Council (2015-18), the 5-11, 190-pound defensive back played in 42 games for the Chanticleers, totaling 140 tackles, 5.5 tackles-for-loss, two interceptions and 23 pass breakups.
 
Chesley finished his career in 2018 ranked sixth in CCU history with 25 passes defended and also ranks 15th in CCU history in unassisted tackles with 105. The Maryland native owns the longest fumble return in CCU history with a 50-yard touchdown return versus Texas State (Oct. 28, 2017).
 
A Biletnikoff Award watch list member in 2018, Williams is a two-time All-Sun Belt selection having earned third-team honors in 2017 and honorable mention recognition in 2018. Williams etched his name in the CCU annuals in just three years, as he ranks fourth all-time (first in FBS) in CCU history with a career average of 16.7 yards per catch, sixth all-time with 1,534 receiving yards and is also tied for sixth all-time with 12 touchdown catches. He also finished his career ranked eighth all-time at CCU with 92 career catches and became just the 10th player in Coastal history to reach 1,000 career receiving yards last year.
 
Williams recorded four 100-plus receiving yard games for his career at CCU, which ranks fourth all-time in Coastal history, and also set the CCU record and had the second-best, single-game effort in Sun Belt history with 266 receiving yards on nine receptions — one shy of the CCU single-game record — versus ULM in 2017.
 
This past season, Williams who graduated in December cum laude with a degree in marketing, posted a team-high 47 catches for 724 yards and five touchdown receptions to lead the receiving corps after leading the Chanticleers in receptions (43), receiving yards (793) and receiving touchdowns (seven) as a junior in 2017.
 
If any other players join these two, they will be added to this release.