10 Standout NFL Draft Prospects from Smaller Programs
By Tyler Brooke
When I spoke with BYU star Jamaal Williams back in November, I called him the nation’s most overlooked running back. A couple of months later, Williams is now generating enough buzz as one of the top players at his position in the draft.
Despite missing a handful of games this season, Williams was able to rush for 1,375 yards and 12 touchdowns while averaging 5.9 yards per carry. His time at BYU was a tumultuous one that involved injuries and a temporary dismissal from the team, but Williams finished strong and looked like a future NFL star.
Williams didn’t make any huge plays during the Senior Bowl itself, but he was awarded with the Practice Player of the Week award. He has nice size for a running back at 6-foot-0 and 211 pounds, and he should have plenty of time to keep adding muscle to his frame.
The BYU star is the perfect example of a power back. His vision is relatively inconsistent, but he’s an excellent north-south runner who has the ability to break off some huge plays.
However, Williams’ best asset is that he keeps his feet moving and picks up plenty of yards after contact. As long as he can keep doing that at the next level, he’ll be a more than productive back wherever he goes.
Williams is currently my No. 3-ranked back behind Fournette and Cook, and I expect that ranking to stay put throughout the next few months.