Darryl Williams 2020 NFL Draft Profile

Darryl Williams 2020 NFL Draft Profile

Darryl Williams played high school football at Bessemer City high school. He played all five positions on the offensive line, which was an early indicator that he would be a versatile prospect. Williams was a four-star prospect coming out of high school. 247Sports considered him the 13th best prospect coming out of Alabama the year he was entering college. He ultimately committed to Mississippi State.

Williams red-shirted his true freshman year and he made the SEC Academic Honor Roll. He appeared in seven games his sophomore year, but this was mostly in special teams work. However, Williams went on to start his final three seasons as a college athlete. He finished college playing in 45 games with 38 starts. He was the starting left guard for the 2017 and 2018 seasons, and then took over as the starting center for his final season in 2019. Williams was a team captain for Mississippi State in his senior season. Additionally, he earned SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week honors twice last season.

Strengths

three-year starter with versatility as an interior offensive lineman;

competitive toughness makes up for his relative lack of size;

good awareness to help his guard seal gaps when playing center;

showcases ability to reset his block and hold steady after initial push;

takes initiative to block defenders beyond the line when unoccupied.

Weaknesses

does not possess the size and physical traits of an NFL starter;

gives up a lot of space to defenders on initial blocks;

his balance is detrimental at times due to his lack of mobility;

unable to use grip to torque defenders in a desired direction;

tightness in hips affects lateral mobility to sustain blocks;

inconsistent footwork does not allow him to use full strength when required;

NFL Comparision: Joe Looney

Projection: 5th round

Bottom Line on Darryl Williams

Williams had a solid college career at Mississippi State. Notably, Williams only missed one game in his three years as a starter. Despite his reliability, it’s hard to see him making an immediate impact in the NFL. Due to his lack of size and power he will need to work on his technique in order to be an effective blocker. Williams definitely has a lot of heart and coaches should pick up on that. He’s clearly versatile, which could allow him to see the field quickly.

Williams’ combine performance didn’t help his stock. However, his best bet is to shine in his team interviews. Williams will have to connect with coaches and demonstrate a willingness to learn and polish his game. If he can do that, Williams should find himself a late round selection in this year’s draft.

Post Views: 37