rags747
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 8,231
- Reaction score
- 8,702
One of the most underrated players in the 2009 NFL Draft, Williams was a terror in opposing backfields since shifting to weak-side linebacker from strong safety as a sophomore. In each of his last three seasons, he ranked among the nation's leaders in forced fumbles and tackles behind the line of scrimmage.
As a sophomore, he tied for 10th in the country with three forced fumbles and ranked second in the Gateway Conference with 10.5 stops for loss. In 2007, he placed fourth in the Football Championship Subdivision with five forced fumbles, tying the school and league record. His 16.5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage led the team and conference. He would capture the forced fumble title in the FCS with six in 2008, as he also finished second in the league with 17.0 stops for loss.
Williams' 14 forced fumbles set the NCAA FSC career-record and is tied with Adam McGurk of Division II Adams State (2002-05), Kenechi Udeze of Southern California (2001-03), Terrell Suggs of Arizona State (2000-02) and Antwan Peek of Cincinnati (2000-02) for the overall collegiate record. His 42.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage rank seventh in school history, fourth in Gateway Conference annals and 21st in the NCAA FCS ranks.
At DuSable High School, Williams was recognized more for his rushing and passing exploits than that as a linebacker. He led his team to an undefeated mark in the Chicago Public League's Intra-City Central Conference as a senior and was a two-time All-City and All-Section pick. He rushed for 2,988 yards, threw for 3,015 and tallied 71 total touchdowns (35 rushing and 36 passing) in his career.
Williams enrolled as a 200-pound athlete at Western Illinois in 2004, redshirting that season as a scout team strong safety. In 2005, he appeared in 10 games, seeing limited action early in the year while being listed third on the depth chart at strong safety. His special teams play helped earn him a starting position for the team's final two games, as he posted 23 tackles (14 solos) with a stop for a loss and one blocked kick.
Williams continued to excel on special teams in 2006. The All-Gateway Conference honorable mention shifted to weak-side linebacker. He was the only defender to start all 11 games for WIU. He was the recipient of the team's Green Beret Award for his significant contributions to the kicking game. He ranked second on the team with 92 tackles (41 solo), including three sacks and 10.5 stops for loss. He also caused three fumbles.
Williams was fourth nationally with a school single-season record tying five forced fumbles in 2007. The All-American and All-Gateway Conference first-team choice finished second in the voting for league Defensive Player of the Year honors. He led the Leathernecks with 107 tackles (42 solo) and eight sacks. His 16.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage led the conference, as he also recovered two fumbles.
As a senior, Williams was named a consensus All-American and unanimous All-Gateway Conference first-team selection. He finished fourth in the voting for the Buck Buchanan Award, given to the top defensive player in the FCS ranks. He started every game at weak-side linebacker, leading the nation with a school season-record six forced fumbles, the second-best total by a Gateway player. He finished second in the league with a team-high 17.0 stops for loss and had four sacks among his 67 tackles (39 solos).
Scouting Report
GENERAL REPORT
GRADE: 6.3
Body Structure: Williams has a compact, muscular frame with good upper-body development, broad shoulders, thick chest, tapered thighs and thick hamstrings. He will need to add bulk to compete at the next level, but has room on his frame to carry the additional weight without it impacting his overall speed. Even though he is not bulky, he is a stout athlete with good muscle definition and is impressively defined in his calves and biceps.
Athletic Ability: Williams has great agility and athletic ability, playing with ideal quickness and speed. He shows fine balance closing on the ball and the ability to stay on his feet working through trash. With his flexibility, he is quick to redirect and work his way to the flow of the ball. He has the quickness of a safety dropping back in zone coverage and is an above-average player in the open field with suddenness to close. He looks athletic moving to the ball, showing fluid change-of-direction agility, acceleration and body control in attempts to keep the action in front of him. He shows suddenness in his initial move off the ball and gets to top speed quickly. He has the lateral agility and change-of-direction agility to slip off blocks and string plays wide. He shows good strength at initial contact and breaks down well on the move. His ability to quickly turn and run makes him an asset in pass coverage, as he has the foot speed to stay with most receivers through their routes. GRADE: 7.3
Football Sense: Williams is naturally instinctive with good field vision. He is a quick study taking plays from the chalkboard to the field. He prepares well and understands assignments. He is not the type that will take poor angles in pursuit, showing the hip action to quickly turn coming out of his backpedal. He is alert maintaining eye contact with the ball when working through trash. He picks up traps and pulls easily and shows fluid feet retreating in pass coverage. He stays focused throughout the play and knows his teammates' assignments well enough to line other players. He plays with savvy and knows what he's doing on every down. GRADE: 6.4
Character: Williams is a blue-chip prospect with a blue-collar work ethic. He is a self-starter who puts in the extra hours in the weight room and film room. He has no known off-field issues, is mature for his age and has a good business-like approach. He is a solid individual, both on and off the field. GRADE: 6.3
Competitiveness: Williams plays to the whistle. He doesn't allow emotions to get the better of him. He is the type that will sacrifice his body to make plays all over the field. He plays with great energy and will not hesitate sacrificing his body to step up in the trenches and take on the lead block, despite giving up quite a bit of bulk offensive linemen. He is an energetic type and hits hard, but will get a bit out of control. The type that works long hours to succeed and more often than not, you will find him in the film room after practices. He stays focused and plays hard, whether in game action or practices. He is the type that can get physical with the bigger blockers and will not hesitate to mix it up in the trenches. GRADE: 6.5
Work Habits: Williams plays with energy and wants to be in on every tackle. He goes about his business quietly, but lets his actions on the field speak for him. He is better in space but will give it his all when playing in the box, despite obvious size and bulk issues. He is a self-motivated type who is a well-respected team leader. He takes well to hard coaching. He is an outstanding worker in practices and a self-made type that pushes himself hard to succeed. He has an excellent team-first attitude and while he is a leader by example, he will not hesitate to get vocal in the huddle. GRADE: 6.4
ATHLETIC REPORT
GRADE: 6.52
Key and Diagnostic Skills: Williams is good at making reads and reacting quickly to the action. He plays with good instincts and awareness and is quick to see the play developing. He has a nose for the ball and does a better job of attacking it when working in space than in closed quarters. He is sudden to react and triggers fast moving back in zone coverage. He is quick coming off the snap, staying low in his pads while generating quick lateral movements to string the plays wide. He has the natural ability to always anticipate the flow of the ball. He is a patient type and generally plays under control and has no problems identifying what the offense throws at him. Even when he gets reckless in his pursuit, he has the quickness and balance to recover. GRADE: 6.7
Playing Strength and Explosion: Lacks the ideal size to take on the large blockers, compensates with strength, field savvy, quickness and instincts. Williams has enough playing strength to combat tight ends and lead blockers, but will struggle to shed when an offensive lineman latches on to his body. He is a better space player than in tight quarters. He needs to be very quick and active with his hands to control and get off blocks in attempts to get to the ball. He is strong for his size and can hit with leverage to stun lead blocks and cause a pile. He has the ease of movement to flow to the ball, staying at a proper pad level to extend, wrap and secure as a tackler. He constantly keeps his legs moving on contact, doing a nice job of driving the ballcarrier back. When he takes on blocks with his hands, he will generally separate and get off blocks quickly. Linemen have had success locking on and neutralizing him. He has more than enough functional strength to take on blocks and shed vs. slot receivers, tight ends and fullbacks. He has no problem running downhill to fill the rush lane, but must maintain good leverage when taking on linemen. GRADE: 6.6
Lateral Pursuit/Range: Williams has a natural feel for the flow of the ball, showing quick lateral movement and fluid change-of-direction agility. He has the ease of movement when changing direction to turn and run to the ball in an instant. He plays with good hand use, balance and agility to thread through traffic, but a lack of bulk could see him engulfed in one-on-one battles vs. bigger linemen. He is quick to pull the trigger when operating in pursuit, has the speed to cover ground from sideline to sideline, excellent range and good effort. Takes good angles in pursuit and stays low in his pads to deliver a clean wrap-up tackle. He shows explosive acceleration when closing and has a natural flow in his backpedal. GRADE: 6.5
Use of Hands: Uses his hands well when attempting to press and reroute in coverage, showing good strength to jolt and redirect tight ends and backs in pass routes. Plays bigger than his size indicates, showing good physicality in his game. He uses his hands effectively to keep blockers off his feet and get around trash quickly. He has natural hands, but the WIU system calls for him to attack the man, rather than the ball, making it difficult to evaluate his ability as a pass thief. GRADE: 6.3
Tackling Ability: Williams is a solid wrap-up tackler who extends his arms properly to stalk and secure. He is an athletic mover who is best when playing in space than in tight areas. He has the functional strength to attack the outside leg of the ballcarrier to quickly impede that opponent's forward progress. He will get out of control at times, but that will usually happen when he takes a wide loop to avoid lineman in his backside pursuit. He is an aggressive hitter who closes fast, hits face up and wraps solidly. He collides with ballcarriers upon initial contact and has the strength to shed blocks and stay on the ball. He shows ease of movement getting to the ball when working in space. He has the leg drive and strength to get the ballcarrier on the ground instantly. GRADE: 6.5
Run Defense: Against the inside run, Williams compensates for a lack of size with his change-of-direction agility and lateral movement to slip past blocks. He fills the hole quickly and has the functional strength to take on fullbacks, but against bigger offensive linemen, he can get engulfed when working in-line if he does not protect his chest. He can play downhill but is best when using his hands to shed when working near the line of scrimmage, which allows him to fill the rush lane. He plays with good leverage taking on blocks coming off the edge, flashes good take-on ability to stuff lead blocks, but is inconsistent when asked to hold the point in one-on-one inside battles. GRADE: 7.1
Pass Defense: Williams has the ability to drop off deep in the zone due to his loose hips. He has the quickness to run with backs, tight ends and slot receivers in the short area and shows good vision, quickness and ball anticipation. He uses his hands with force in press situations and shows the hip swerve to operate in trail coverage. He takes no wasted steps in transition and is quick to turn coming out of his backpedal. He flips his hips properly and plays at a good pad level. Williams shows no stiffness in his turns and can drop off quickly. He gets good depth in his pass drops and keeps his head on a swivel to locate the ball in flight. In man coverage, Williams has the quickness of a safety. He can turn and run with most tight ends and running backs. He looks natural maintaining position on the receiver when working underneath. His quick feet allow him to shadow even the speedier receivers on deep routes, doing a nice job of opening his hips to turn and run. He can drop back in zone coverage due to his loose hips and upper body flexibility, just lacking the natural hands to come up with the ball when attacking it in flight. GRADE: 6.3
Zone Defense: Williams has the hip snap and fluidity to stop, start and change direction in an instant. He shows a good feel for handling switch-offs and is an alert player who does a nice job reading threats from the quarterback and timing his moves to get to the ball before the receiver. He has enough burst and athletic ability to discourage the passer from throwing into his area, as his anticipation and burst lets him get a quick jump on the ball. He picks up and switches off receivers easily, keeping the play in front of him. He has an explosive break on the ball and keeps his hands properly extended to wrap and secure. GRADE: 6.3
Pass Rush and Blitz: Williams can get caught up vs. inside trash when his hands get outside his frame, but when he keeps his hands active and gets a strong push off the blocker, he can get into the backfield to apply pocket pressure. He gives good effort as a blitzer and is effective flowing to the ball and attacking from the back side. He has the speed to close and run down plays. He is better as a bull rusher than as a pass rusher, as he might have the speed to avoid and slip blocks, but does not have the size to take on and defeat NFL offensive linemen, negating his explosion when the opponent is able to lock on and engulf him. GRADE: 6.4
Compares To: JAMES HARRISON, Pittsburgh -- This is high praise for an unknown player, but the more film scouts watch on Williams, the more they will notice he has the "it" factor. With patient coaching and in the right system, he could turn into one of the better finds in this draft. He plays with excellent field vision and awareness. Williams demonstrates the instincts to quickly track down the ball. He has the change-of-direction agility and lateral movement to string plays wide and hits ballcarriers with force, driving with his legs to push the opponent back through the rush lane.
OVERALL GRADE: 6.53
--Report by Dave-Te Thomas
As a sophomore, he tied for 10th in the country with three forced fumbles and ranked second in the Gateway Conference with 10.5 stops for loss. In 2007, he placed fourth in the Football Championship Subdivision with five forced fumbles, tying the school and league record. His 16.5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage led the team and conference. He would capture the forced fumble title in the FCS with six in 2008, as he also finished second in the league with 17.0 stops for loss.
Williams' 14 forced fumbles set the NCAA FSC career-record and is tied with Adam McGurk of Division II Adams State (2002-05), Kenechi Udeze of Southern California (2001-03), Terrell Suggs of Arizona State (2000-02) and Antwan Peek of Cincinnati (2000-02) for the overall collegiate record. His 42.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage rank seventh in school history, fourth in Gateway Conference annals and 21st in the NCAA FCS ranks.
At DuSable High School, Williams was recognized more for his rushing and passing exploits than that as a linebacker. He led his team to an undefeated mark in the Chicago Public League's Intra-City Central Conference as a senior and was a two-time All-City and All-Section pick. He rushed for 2,988 yards, threw for 3,015 and tallied 71 total touchdowns (35 rushing and 36 passing) in his career.
Williams enrolled as a 200-pound athlete at Western Illinois in 2004, redshirting that season as a scout team strong safety. In 2005, he appeared in 10 games, seeing limited action early in the year while being listed third on the depth chart at strong safety. His special teams play helped earn him a starting position for the team's final two games, as he posted 23 tackles (14 solos) with a stop for a loss and one blocked kick.
Williams continued to excel on special teams in 2006. The All-Gateway Conference honorable mention shifted to weak-side linebacker. He was the only defender to start all 11 games for WIU. He was the recipient of the team's Green Beret Award for his significant contributions to the kicking game. He ranked second on the team with 92 tackles (41 solo), including three sacks and 10.5 stops for loss. He also caused three fumbles.
Williams was fourth nationally with a school single-season record tying five forced fumbles in 2007. The All-American and All-Gateway Conference first-team choice finished second in the voting for league Defensive Player of the Year honors. He led the Leathernecks with 107 tackles (42 solo) and eight sacks. His 16.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage led the conference, as he also recovered two fumbles.
As a senior, Williams was named a consensus All-American and unanimous All-Gateway Conference first-team selection. He finished fourth in the voting for the Buck Buchanan Award, given to the top defensive player in the FCS ranks. He started every game at weak-side linebacker, leading the nation with a school season-record six forced fumbles, the second-best total by a Gateway player. He finished second in the league with a team-high 17.0 stops for loss and had four sacks among his 67 tackles (39 solos).
Scouting Report
GENERAL REPORT
GRADE: 6.3
Body Structure: Williams has a compact, muscular frame with good upper-body development, broad shoulders, thick chest, tapered thighs and thick hamstrings. He will need to add bulk to compete at the next level, but has room on his frame to carry the additional weight without it impacting his overall speed. Even though he is not bulky, he is a stout athlete with good muscle definition and is impressively defined in his calves and biceps.
Athletic Ability: Williams has great agility and athletic ability, playing with ideal quickness and speed. He shows fine balance closing on the ball and the ability to stay on his feet working through trash. With his flexibility, he is quick to redirect and work his way to the flow of the ball. He has the quickness of a safety dropping back in zone coverage and is an above-average player in the open field with suddenness to close. He looks athletic moving to the ball, showing fluid change-of-direction agility, acceleration and body control in attempts to keep the action in front of him. He shows suddenness in his initial move off the ball and gets to top speed quickly. He has the lateral agility and change-of-direction agility to slip off blocks and string plays wide. He shows good strength at initial contact and breaks down well on the move. His ability to quickly turn and run makes him an asset in pass coverage, as he has the foot speed to stay with most receivers through their routes. GRADE: 7.3
Football Sense: Williams is naturally instinctive with good field vision. He is a quick study taking plays from the chalkboard to the field. He prepares well and understands assignments. He is not the type that will take poor angles in pursuit, showing the hip action to quickly turn coming out of his backpedal. He is alert maintaining eye contact with the ball when working through trash. He picks up traps and pulls easily and shows fluid feet retreating in pass coverage. He stays focused throughout the play and knows his teammates' assignments well enough to line other players. He plays with savvy and knows what he's doing on every down. GRADE: 6.4
Character: Williams is a blue-chip prospect with a blue-collar work ethic. He is a self-starter who puts in the extra hours in the weight room and film room. He has no known off-field issues, is mature for his age and has a good business-like approach. He is a solid individual, both on and off the field. GRADE: 6.3
Competitiveness: Williams plays to the whistle. He doesn't allow emotions to get the better of him. He is the type that will sacrifice his body to make plays all over the field. He plays with great energy and will not hesitate sacrificing his body to step up in the trenches and take on the lead block, despite giving up quite a bit of bulk offensive linemen. He is an energetic type and hits hard, but will get a bit out of control. The type that works long hours to succeed and more often than not, you will find him in the film room after practices. He stays focused and plays hard, whether in game action or practices. He is the type that can get physical with the bigger blockers and will not hesitate to mix it up in the trenches. GRADE: 6.5
Work Habits: Williams plays with energy and wants to be in on every tackle. He goes about his business quietly, but lets his actions on the field speak for him. He is better in space but will give it his all when playing in the box, despite obvious size and bulk issues. He is a self-motivated type who is a well-respected team leader. He takes well to hard coaching. He is an outstanding worker in practices and a self-made type that pushes himself hard to succeed. He has an excellent team-first attitude and while he is a leader by example, he will not hesitate to get vocal in the huddle. GRADE: 6.4
ATHLETIC REPORT
GRADE: 6.52
Key and Diagnostic Skills: Williams is good at making reads and reacting quickly to the action. He plays with good instincts and awareness and is quick to see the play developing. He has a nose for the ball and does a better job of attacking it when working in space than in closed quarters. He is sudden to react and triggers fast moving back in zone coverage. He is quick coming off the snap, staying low in his pads while generating quick lateral movements to string the plays wide. He has the natural ability to always anticipate the flow of the ball. He is a patient type and generally plays under control and has no problems identifying what the offense throws at him. Even when he gets reckless in his pursuit, he has the quickness and balance to recover. GRADE: 6.7
Playing Strength and Explosion: Lacks the ideal size to take on the large blockers, compensates with strength, field savvy, quickness and instincts. Williams has enough playing strength to combat tight ends and lead blockers, but will struggle to shed when an offensive lineman latches on to his body. He is a better space player than in tight quarters. He needs to be very quick and active with his hands to control and get off blocks in attempts to get to the ball. He is strong for his size and can hit with leverage to stun lead blocks and cause a pile. He has the ease of movement to flow to the ball, staying at a proper pad level to extend, wrap and secure as a tackler. He constantly keeps his legs moving on contact, doing a nice job of driving the ballcarrier back. When he takes on blocks with his hands, he will generally separate and get off blocks quickly. Linemen have had success locking on and neutralizing him. He has more than enough functional strength to take on blocks and shed vs. slot receivers, tight ends and fullbacks. He has no problem running downhill to fill the rush lane, but must maintain good leverage when taking on linemen. GRADE: 6.6
Lateral Pursuit/Range: Williams has a natural feel for the flow of the ball, showing quick lateral movement and fluid change-of-direction agility. He has the ease of movement when changing direction to turn and run to the ball in an instant. He plays with good hand use, balance and agility to thread through traffic, but a lack of bulk could see him engulfed in one-on-one battles vs. bigger linemen. He is quick to pull the trigger when operating in pursuit, has the speed to cover ground from sideline to sideline, excellent range and good effort. Takes good angles in pursuit and stays low in his pads to deliver a clean wrap-up tackle. He shows explosive acceleration when closing and has a natural flow in his backpedal. GRADE: 6.5
Use of Hands: Uses his hands well when attempting to press and reroute in coverage, showing good strength to jolt and redirect tight ends and backs in pass routes. Plays bigger than his size indicates, showing good physicality in his game. He uses his hands effectively to keep blockers off his feet and get around trash quickly. He has natural hands, but the WIU system calls for him to attack the man, rather than the ball, making it difficult to evaluate his ability as a pass thief. GRADE: 6.3
Tackling Ability: Williams is a solid wrap-up tackler who extends his arms properly to stalk and secure. He is an athletic mover who is best when playing in space than in tight areas. He has the functional strength to attack the outside leg of the ballcarrier to quickly impede that opponent's forward progress. He will get out of control at times, but that will usually happen when he takes a wide loop to avoid lineman in his backside pursuit. He is an aggressive hitter who closes fast, hits face up and wraps solidly. He collides with ballcarriers upon initial contact and has the strength to shed blocks and stay on the ball. He shows ease of movement getting to the ball when working in space. He has the leg drive and strength to get the ballcarrier on the ground instantly. GRADE: 6.5
Run Defense: Against the inside run, Williams compensates for a lack of size with his change-of-direction agility and lateral movement to slip past blocks. He fills the hole quickly and has the functional strength to take on fullbacks, but against bigger offensive linemen, he can get engulfed when working in-line if he does not protect his chest. He can play downhill but is best when using his hands to shed when working near the line of scrimmage, which allows him to fill the rush lane. He plays with good leverage taking on blocks coming off the edge, flashes good take-on ability to stuff lead blocks, but is inconsistent when asked to hold the point in one-on-one inside battles. GRADE: 7.1
Pass Defense: Williams has the ability to drop off deep in the zone due to his loose hips. He has the quickness to run with backs, tight ends and slot receivers in the short area and shows good vision, quickness and ball anticipation. He uses his hands with force in press situations and shows the hip swerve to operate in trail coverage. He takes no wasted steps in transition and is quick to turn coming out of his backpedal. He flips his hips properly and plays at a good pad level. Williams shows no stiffness in his turns and can drop off quickly. He gets good depth in his pass drops and keeps his head on a swivel to locate the ball in flight. In man coverage, Williams has the quickness of a safety. He can turn and run with most tight ends and running backs. He looks natural maintaining position on the receiver when working underneath. His quick feet allow him to shadow even the speedier receivers on deep routes, doing a nice job of opening his hips to turn and run. He can drop back in zone coverage due to his loose hips and upper body flexibility, just lacking the natural hands to come up with the ball when attacking it in flight. GRADE: 6.3
Zone Defense: Williams has the hip snap and fluidity to stop, start and change direction in an instant. He shows a good feel for handling switch-offs and is an alert player who does a nice job reading threats from the quarterback and timing his moves to get to the ball before the receiver. He has enough burst and athletic ability to discourage the passer from throwing into his area, as his anticipation and burst lets him get a quick jump on the ball. He picks up and switches off receivers easily, keeping the play in front of him. He has an explosive break on the ball and keeps his hands properly extended to wrap and secure. GRADE: 6.3
Pass Rush and Blitz: Williams can get caught up vs. inside trash when his hands get outside his frame, but when he keeps his hands active and gets a strong push off the blocker, he can get into the backfield to apply pocket pressure. He gives good effort as a blitzer and is effective flowing to the ball and attacking from the back side. He has the speed to close and run down plays. He is better as a bull rusher than as a pass rusher, as he might have the speed to avoid and slip blocks, but does not have the size to take on and defeat NFL offensive linemen, negating his explosion when the opponent is able to lock on and engulf him. GRADE: 6.4
Compares To: JAMES HARRISON, Pittsburgh -- This is high praise for an unknown player, but the more film scouts watch on Williams, the more they will notice he has the "it" factor. With patient coaching and in the right system, he could turn into one of the better finds in this draft. He plays with excellent field vision and awareness. Williams demonstrates the instincts to quickly track down the ball. He has the change-of-direction agility and lateral movement to string plays wide and hits ballcarriers with force, driving with his legs to push the opponent back through the rush lane.
OVERALL GRADE: 6.53
--Report by Dave-Te Thomas
