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Sean Williamson will probably cry when he takes the field Saturday night at Arizona Stadium.

No one would blame him.

Toledo's starting defensive tackle was not supposed to play football again after injuring his knee in the team's 2007 opener against Purdue. Two knee surgeries and a medical redshirt later, the 25-year-old Williamson will give his senior season another shot.

The 6-foot-1-inch, 262-pounder will start and serve as a co-captain when Toledo takes on the Arizona Wildcats on Saturday in its season opener. Arizona is 1-0 after dispatching Idaho 70-0 on Saturday.

"For me, it's been an uphill climb," said Williamson. "My whole goal has been to be able to go out there and play against Arizona, so it's definitely going to be an emotional thing.

"But it will feel good, I promise you that."

Injuries have lengthened Williamson's college career by two full years.

The White Lake, Mich., native hurt his shoulder shortly after arriving at Toledo in 2003 following a year at the Air Force Academy Prep School in Colorado Springs, Colo. Surgery forced him to miss his freshman year.

Williamson returned for the 2004 season, playing in 10 games. He earned a starting job at defensive end as a sophomore, and played in a combined 24 games over the next two seasons. Williamson had 75 tackles and 12 1/2 tackles for loss over those two years, and was among the Rockets' top pass-rushers.

Williamson was again expected to be one of Toledo's top players as a senior in 2007, but he blew out his knee in the season opener.

Doctors repaired Williamson's knee with a pair of surgeries — one last September, the other in December — but warned that he would probably never play again.

Williamson said he wanted to give it a try anyway. He missed all of spring drills as he recovered from his second surgery, but was healthy enough to return for training camp.

Toledo needs him, whether he's healthy or not.

The Rockets will start the season with just 10 seniors on their roster, the fewest — along with Central Michigan — of any team in the nation.

Williamson is expected to bring both production and perspective to a young team.

He earned his undergraduate degree in individualized studies last spring, and is working on a master's degree in physical education.

"He's a player that our guys look to, and we're looking forward to getting him on the field and making some plays," Toledo coach Tom Amstutz said. "He's gone through a long off-season and I'm sure he's ready to play."

Williamson believes he's waited long enough.

"When somebody tells you you're not going to play again, it's hard," he said.

"I worked hard to have my shot come Saturday. It's been a struggle, but it's been a lesson. I've learned a lot."