Brandon Williams CB/RB 600 200 Texas A & M
Surprise pick even in the late third. No mention of him in the four draft guides I use as reference. He's fast enough - ran a 4.37 forty at the Combine - but considered more fast than quick...Judging by his write-ups, he reminds me of a faster Justin Bethel. Makes me wonder if BA plans to move Justin back to safety if Williams shows the coaches is ready for prime time. Some write-ups:
According to NFL.com:
"Oklahoma claimed a major recruiting victory by bringing in the five-star, top-20 overall recruit out of Texas. Williams played eight games as a true freshman (219 rush yards), suffering a neck injury in the finale, from which he fully recovered. However, the Sooners' logjam at the running back position and Williams' desire to be closer to his young daughter caused him to transfer to A&M....(switched) to the cornerback position....wound up starting all 13 games last fall at that position, making 37 tackles, one for loss, and seven pass breakups. The athleticism he showed on defense gave NFL scouts enough to chew on..."
"STRENGTHS ...Very good size and overall build for the position. Extremely raw, but has projectable NFL traits. Flashed a quality burst to the ball from his backpedal. Steady and sure tackler with enough mass on his frame to hit and stick to big receivers and running backs coming his way. Blazing straight-line recovery speed. Has potential to be a very good cover man as gunner on punt coverage."
"WEAKNESSES Has just one season of experience at the position. Learning curve is unpredictable and could be prolonged. Slow to process combo routes and find shifting zone responsibilities. Still learning to sit in receiver's pocket when he's pinned to the sideline. Faster than quick and allows entirely too much separation at this juncture. Stiff in his transition and missing confidence and instincts at this time."
"BOTTOM LINE Williams began his transition from running back to cornerback in fall camp so any draft grades that NFL teams give him will be based purely on projection. The tape was often unkind to Williams who had to face off against SEC competition with nothing more than athleticism and guile. NFL teams will look at the traits and see a player who fits the mold and who should improve with more coaching....could be drafted substantially higher than my grade based on traits, but there is no guarantee he will progress quickly enough to stick long-term."
Other quotes on Willians:
(Before the 2015 season): "...he made the move to cornerback in the weeks leading up to the 2015 season and saw significant action Saturday night vs. Arizona State. Obviously he is very raw at the new position, but he has the size/speed profile that has attracted NFL attention. Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin went as far as to say he is “confident” that Williams will be drafted next spring as a defensive back. Keep an eye on the development of the Aggies new cornerback". - Dane Brugler, NFLDraftScout.com
"Texas A&M cornerback Brandon Williams is one of those polarizing prospects who has jumped off the page since impressing at the combine and during the Aggies' Pro Day.
"Williams, a former 247Sports Composite five-star prospect who originally signed with Oklahoma as an elite running back, made the transition to the secondary last fall with little hesitation at the urging of John Chavis. By the end of the season, he had several starts under his belt at corner and despite somewhat inconsistent film, had shown enough athleticism and ability in coverage to warrant a closer look from the NFL.
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein says Williams, once a late-round pick at best, could go as early as Friday's third round. Earlier this week, Williams participated in private workouts for Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots and Houston's Bill O'Brien. He also visited with the Steelers and Bears, per reports.
"I love playing cornerback because at running back you've got to depend on people for your play as far as blocking," Williams told The Houston Chronicle. "Having a good game at corner, it's all on your preparation and technique. It's all on you. I like the independence of the position."
The 6-foot, 200-pounder turned heads in Indianapolis with a 30.5-inch vertical leap, a 9-10 broad jump and 18 reps at 225 on the bench. For a cornerback, those numbers stood out." - Brad Crawford 247 Sports
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