My Two Cents: NFL Paths Cross For Former Hoosiers Jaylin Williams, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine

Former Indiana football standouts Jaylin Williams and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine played together for two years in Bloomington, and now they are chasing their football dreams in the NFL. Williams is a rookie with the Minnesota Vikings, and Westbrook-Ikhine is in his fourth years with the Titans. They've been practicing together this week.

EAGAN, Minn. — It's hard to make it in the NFL as an undrafted free agent. Really, really hard.

In the wee hours after the NFL draft, all 32 teams sign a dozen or more undrafted college players. And then they become one of 90 on an offseason roster, hoping to become one of just 53 active survivors when the regular season starts in September.

Those are long odds.

For the young players, it's all about fit and making a good first impression to get to the finish line. That's exactly what former Indiana defensive back Jaylin Williams is doing with the Minnesota Vikings. The 5-foot-10, 195-pound 23-year-old is an undrafted free agent trying to find a home in their secondary.

And so far, so good. He's been turning heads throughout training camp and even had an interception in their first preseason game at Seattle last weekend.

That's what it takes to beat the odds. So far, he's doing exactly that.

"I'm just trying to stick my nose in there and do all I can every day,'' Williams said Thursday after a joint practice with the Tennessee Titans at the Vikings' fabulous facility in Eagan, Minn. "I just keep working hard and taking things in my own hands to get better every day. 

"The learning curve has been good. I've been at nickel a lot and I'm just trying to wrap my head around that and make the most out of my opportunity. Same with special teams, too. That's big, and I've always liked that. I'm doing whatever I can.''

I ran into Williams up here as part of my new role as publisher of Sports Illustrated/FanNation's NFL site covering the Tennessee Titans. It's one of my four properties now, including Indiana. It was great to catch up with Williams, the Memphis, Tenn., native who spent five years with the Hoosiers, playing a big role in the program's turnaround in 2019 and 2020, when they went 14-5 and became a top-10 team nationally.

Williams was also able to catch up with former Indiana teammate Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, who's starting his fourth year with the Titans as a wide receiver and special teams standout.

They played together for two years in Bloomington, and are fast friends. Westbrook is a good inspiration for Williams, because he was an undrafted free agent too. He made the Titans' practice squad in 2020, but was quickly added to the active roster, playing mostly special teams in 14 games. 

He had just three catches as a receiver that first year, but had 38 in 2021 and 25 a year ago. Now he's part of their receiving corps, and a big special teams contributor.

Minnesota Vikings defensive back Jaylin Williams (left) and Tennessee Titans wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine played together at Indiana for two years. (HoosiersNow.com photo by Tom Brew)

They were on the field together a lot the past two days during the joint practices, but never wound up going nose-to-nose against each other, the defensive back and the wide receiver.

''He wasn't in the slot, so our paths didn't cross (during the 7-on-7 an 11-on-11 periods),'' Williams said. "We were in the same special teams lines a few times too, but never head to head.

"But it was good to see him. I'm happy for Nick. He's worked hard for all he's gotten so far too.''

Williams is doing the same. He's adjusting quickly, and making a good impression.

"It's all different (from college), but every day it's still all about playing ball. I've been doing that all my life,'' Williams said.  "I felt good to get that interception, and the coaches did a great job of getting me in the right position to make a play for the team.''

Lots of media folks like to do those 53-man roster projections when training camps start, and Williams wasn't on any of the Vikings' guesses. That might be changing now. He's got a shot at making the team, and at the very least should wind up on their practice squad. He'll likely see plenty of action in Saturday night's preseason game with the Titans at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

"When we first started camp, it was like 'who's that No. 38 making plays?' one long-time Vikings observer said. "Then it's like, 'there's 38 again, that's Jaylin Williams.' He's definitely standing out and doing some good things.''

HoosiersNow.com and AllTitans.com publisher Tom Brew (left) grabs a picture with former Indiana cornerback Jaylin Williams following practice on Thursday. Williams is now with the NFL's Minnesota Vikings

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• VIKINGS COVERAGE: To keep up with our daily coverage of former Indiana defensive back Jaylin Williams and the Minnesota Vikings on Inside the Vikings, CLICK HERE
• TITANS COVERAGE: To keep up with our daily coverage of former Indiana wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine and the Tennessee Titans on AllTitans.com, CLICK HERE 

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