NFL Draft Profile: Sam Williams, Edge Rusher, Ole Miss Rebels
#13
Pos: EDGE
Ht: 6035
Wt: 261
Hand: 0978
Arm: 3318
Wing: 8000
40: 4.46
Bench: N/A
3-Cone: N/A
Shuttle: N/A
Vert: 32.5
Broad: 1003
DOB: _/_/_
Eligibility: 2022
Montgomery, AL
Northeast Mississippi CC/Lee High School
Sam Williams Ole Miss
Rebels
One-Liner:
A strong-handed pass rusher who can enforce his will on blockers, Williams lacks lower body strength and suffers from high pad level.
Pros:
Long defensive end who lines up anywhere from three technique to wide nine. Williams displays good snap timing, giving him an advantage over blockers. He converts speed to power and creates knockback. Williams uses his length and frequently attacks the chest of blockers like with his long arm which opens up an inside track. He can attack the outside shoulder with a stab rip. Strong hands allow him to enforce his will and twist blockers to create angles for himself. Williams recognizes oversetting blockers and counters inside. Active hands keep his frame clean for the most part. Possessing above average ankle flexion, he can flatten back to the quarterback once at the outside shoulder. In the run game, Williams uses his quick hands to beat lunging blockers and quickly disposes of lead blockers by making them whiff. He sets a strong edge by twisting blockers with his upper body strength and gaining outside leverage. A high-effort player, Williams runs down opponents and consistently plays to the whistle. He is a reliable wrap up tackler.
Cons:
Yet having to fill out his lower half, it is reflected by a lack of lower body power when trying to drive blockers. Williams' pads are consistently too high, allowing offensive linemen to get leverage on him. He is unable to absorb blows from the side, getting finished. An inconsistent speed threat, his burst is just average. Williams lacks first step explosiveness to blow past blockers when a lane opens up. He is unable to dip the shoulder at the top of the rush and often rushes too reactively and without a consistent plan. Inconsistent hand placements leads to misses with his moves and he gets snatched at extension, causing him to lose balance.
Summary:
Defensive end with very good length and upper body power. Williams is a strong handed pass rusher who can enforce his will on blockers by twisting them and creating angles for himself. He lacks lower body strength and suffers from high pad level. Williams projects as a future starter at defensive end who can contribute in a rotational role as a rookie. Average athleticism limits his ceiling as he would ideally be paired with a consistent speed threat. Williams has to answer questions about his character to make teams comfortable with bringing him into their locker room.
Background:
Raised in Montgomery, Alabama. Born on March 31, 1999. Full name is Samuel Degarrick Williams. Attended Northeast Mississippi Community College in 2017 and 2018. Four-star recruit according to 247Sports. Was arrested on July 24th 2020 and charged with sexual battery. Received an indefinite suspension from all team-related activities. All charges were dropped and he was allowed to play in the 2020 season. Multi-disciplinary studies major.
Grades:
Current Player Value/Potential Player Value
7.4/8.2
03/05/22 -- It has been an exhilarating experience during ‘draft season’ for Ole Miss pass-rusher Sam Williams, who has turned heads at every step of the way. It began with a highly impressive showing at the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, where Williams showcased another level of speed and burst than those in attendance. It resulted in an invitation to the Reese’s Senior Bowl, where he continued to shine due to his great bend and flexibility. With rave reviews in both Pasadena and Mobile, Williams took his act to the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. Once again, he proved to be one of the more impressive prospects invited to Indianapolis. The 6-foot-4, 261-pound Williams officially timed 4.46 in the forty-yard dash, along with a 32.5” vertical jump and 10-3 broad jump. Entering January, many draftniks projected the SEC sack leader to be a Day 3 selection. However, after another strong performance, his draft stock has skyrocketed and he could potentially crack the top 100 overall picks come April. (Source: Ric Serritella)
1/28 - The Ole Miss product was once again able to show off his athleticism in drills with scouts remarking: “He moves differently.” While interviews are a huge part of Williams’ week, he has performed as expected on the field, beating offensive linemen with his explosiveness.
1/26 - It has been a solid week for pass-rushers but none more impressive than Williams, who has created a buzz amongst scouts in attendance with his quick twitch and explosiveness. During his time at Ole Miss, he proved that he can disrupt the backfield, registering 32.5 tackles for loss, including 22.5 sacks in 35 career games. While Williams needs to develop more of a pass-rush repertoire, his ability to convert speed-to-power is evident. He has been another hot commodity amongst NFL team interviews, as scouts are still trying to figure out what they are getting off the field. On the field, his talent warrants a mid-round grade.
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