2022 NFL DRAFT PROSPECT REPORT
- Name: Sam Williams
- Position: Edge Rusher
- School: Ole Miss
- Height: 6'4"
- Weight: 261lbs
Film Watched: Alabama 2021, Texas A&M 2021, Louisville 2021, Senior Bowl
Pro's:
- Ultra athletic pass rusher with the burst to terrify tackles
- Has the speed to reach the top of the arc first, and the bend to tighten the curve into the pocket
- Uses blockers wariness of his outside threat to open up inside moves when they overset
- Clever usage of speed changes have opponents working overtime to keep him under control
- Devastating pass rush hand moves, particularly the dip and rip, keep him from being corralled
- Utilises speed to power moves to surprise blockers at contact and rock them backward
- Non-stop motor, and will hunt the football until the whistle
- Effective backside pursuit or scraping across zone blocks as a run defender
Sam Williams is a DE prospect in the 2022 draft class. He scored a 9.65 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 51 out of 1428 DE from 1987 to 2022. https://t.co/mMV4o1GbTU #RAS pic.twitter.com/fZEuDrPiqD
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) March 25, 2022
Con's:
- Struggles against real length to control engagement and stay off sticky blocks
- If offensive linemen manage to lock on to him, he’s in trouble
- Lower body torque is a concern; maintaining gap integrity versus power blocks a concern
- Doesn’t bring the same level of determination as a run defender as he does a pass rusher
The Verdict:
“Watch any 2021 tape of Sam Williams and you can’t help but get excited; the former JuCo product is an ascending pass rusher who is still putting all the pieces together, with plenty more to come. Revelling in Ole Miss’ attacking defensive scheme, Williams racked up 12.5 sacks and 15 tackles for a loss in 2021 as he terrorised SEC offensive lines with his speed. A natural threat on the edge, Williams has the burst and agility to stress protection around the corner and the dip and flexion to zero in on the quarterback at speed. There are obvious power deficiencies in the run game, but even on that front Williams brings the ability to hunt down the football when afforded space. He might start life out as a DPR whilst teams look for him to add more muscle mass, but Williams is a little underappreciated in this draft class and looks set to catch the eye on Sundays.”
Simon Carroll
Head Of NFL Draft Content
NFL COMPARISON: KEMOKO TURAY
PREDICTION: 3RD ROUND PICK
Rated 5 out of 5