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Player Profile - 4.9.09

Pros: Williams is the definition of a speed rusher. He shows good athletic ability on the edge and is extremely quick off the snap, which allows him to get into the backfield with the mind set to make plays. The former Red Raider is a very instinctive player who has that knack to be a playmaker. He has the speed to chase the ball down the line. After showing flashes of that playmaking ability as a sophomore, Williams improved his play during his final year at Texas Tech. It appears he has the type of body to add more muscle and bulk, which would significantly impact his potential down the road.

Cons: Williams is not very strong and needs to add weight. The question remains—will he lose any of that speed and explosiveness if he does put on the pounds? He might need to move to outside linebacker if he cannot gain about 10-15 pounds but it is not evident that he possesses the necessary athleticism to play with his hand off the ground. That’s not good news for him, since he is not a good tackler and struggles to stop the run on his side. He could have really benefited from another year at Texas Tech.

Scouts Take: Williams has one thing going for him—he is a force as a pass rusher and NFL teams want quick players that can get into the backfield. Over half of his tackles in his final year were sacks (he tallied 21 tackles and 11.5 sacks in 2008). He should be an attractive pick in the middle rounds, but will need time and good coaching before he is ready to contribute on an NFL field. He has a lot of upside but shouldn’t have left school early—while it did not reach the level of attention of Pete Carroll and Mark Sanchez, Coach Mike Leach at Tech advised Williams to stay for his final season. He could end up being a day two bargain, but is a development pick who could take a season or two to see the field on a consistent basis.

School Bio

3.20.09 - "Well we wish him the very best even though I think it was a mistake for him to leave early. I think he had more work to do and he could have improved his viability, but I think he’s a good player and has a lot of skills and I think if he continues to improve, he has the opportunity to do well." - College Football Insiders Interview With Texas Tech Head Coach Mike Leach

Photo Credit: College Press Box (Texas Tech)