Dexter

Williams

Williams (5’11/212) was a three-year committee back before taking over as the Irish’s starter for his senior year, graduating with a career 257/1,636/20 (6.4 YPC) rushing line with 22/162/2 receiving. He missed significant time twice due to suspensions and three games with an ankle injury as a junior, never reaching 1,000 rushing yards in a season. Williams did show NFL-level speed and burst in Indy, running 4.57 with an explosive 10-foot-10 broad jump. Well built with exciting acceleration, Williams is a candidate to outkick pre-draft expectations if he can stay out of the trainer’s room and keep his focus on the field.

He also ranks Williams ninth among the top running backs in the 2019 NFL Draft class. Williams (5'11/212) didn’t have a sensational combine, but it wasn’t abhorrent either, and it was a very productive 2019 season for the Golden Domer. “Outstanding footwork, hips and lateral agility to patch moves together,” Brugler writes in his positives, and he also mentions he sustains his speed to run away from chasers. “Overall, Williams hasn’t been the model of reliability over his career,” Brugler writes, “but his turnaround and productive senior season give evaluators optimism because he has the natural talent to upgrade a team’s running back depth chart if he stays committed.”

If you don’t remember Mendenhall he was a solid -- if not spectacular -- starting tailback until it feel apart somewhat spectacularly. Williams (5'11/212) did not light up the combine, but he was a very productive player for Notre Dame, and is viewed by many as a “sleeper” in this class. Zierlein notes his strengths include his “Loose hips to flow where his eyes take him, impressive acceleration, and adequate decisiveness as interior runner.” He also notes that everything with Williams is a small sample size, and he has an arrest and four-game suspension in his background. “His evaluation could require additional character work and his relative lack of experience could mean a slower integration into an NFL offense,” writes Zierlein, “however, he offers exciting upside with the talent to become a productive, NFL starter.”

Williams (5'11/212) was bandied about in some corners of the evaluating internet as a potential stud in the dash. That did not come to pass, not in the slightest. With Friday’s run coming up a little flat, Williams’ performance in other drills, as well as interviews, become all the more important to his chances of landing on Day 2. It’s important not to overreact to 40-yard dash times, but for players whose games are supposed to be predicated on speed, you can’t help but pump the brakes by degrees when they come up slow.

Williams was listed at 5-foot-11, 215 pounds by Notre Dame last season. More or less on those marks, here, albeit a little lighter than the Irish had him at. Measurement was never going to be a serious concern for Williams, but he’s in for an important week beyond that. Interviews will matter -- Williams has had off-field concerns in the past -- as will his testing times. We’re not completely sold that he’s going to crush the 40-yard dash, though there are certainly some corners of the evaluating community who see that as potentially being in play. Williams could land as high as Round 2 if a team falls in love with him. Again, big week upcoming.

Jeremiah shares the same love for Temple RB Ryquell Armstead and Penn State RB Miles Sanders, but Williams (5'11/215) is arguably the most intriguing for a few reasons. After a slow start to his collegiate career, Williams exploded as a junior, averaging 6.3 yards on his 158 carries (995 rushing yards) while scoring touchdowns at an impressive 7.6% rate (12 rushing touchdowns with seven of them coming from 20+ yards out). But Williams also improved his draft stock at the Reese’s Senior Bowl after being named the running back of the week. While there have been off-field issues in his past, Williams is shaping up as an intriguing mid-round prospect on the field.

Williams also had a catch for four yards, but he struggled as a receiver in this one, missing a couple of chances for long gains on well designed screens. He also struggled to start as a runner, but the 5-foot-11, 215-pound tailback was able to come on late, including a touchdown run for three yards in the fourth quarter. Williams was the best tailback in many analysts’ eyes in Mobile, and has a chance to be a late Day 2, early Day 3 selection.

Williams (5'11/215) is joined by QB Jarrett Stidham, WR Deebo Samuel, TE Foster Moreau, and OL Garrett Bradbury as offensive position players awarded as players of the week. The Notre Dame alum continues to increase his draft stock since his early-season four-game suspension. During his breakout season, Williams averaged 6.3 yards on his 158 carries and showed explosion on his seven 20+ yard touchdowns. Given a sixth-round grade earlier, Williams appears to be making his way towards the Day 2/3 borderline.

Williams (5'11/215) emerged as a big-play back for the Fighting Irish after serving an early-season four-game suspension. The senior averaged 6.3 yards on his 158 carries, scored seven 20+ yard touchdowns, and went for six on 5-of-19 red zone carries. An interesting prospect with some off-the-field concerns, Williams needs to have a positive Senior Bowl week to become more than a sixth-rounder.

Williams also caught three passes for 29 yards. A few flashes of brilliance for the senior tailback, but not enough, as Notre Dame ran for just 88 yards against the stout Clemson defense. Williams had a breakout season despite missing the first four games with a suspension, and he’s now off to the NFL. We’ll see him in the Reese’s Senior Bowl, and he performs well in that game, the 5-foot-11, 215-pound tailback should see his stock rise.