Marcus Williams, FS
School: Utah | Conference: PAC-12
College Experience: Junior | Age: 20
Height / Weight: 6-1 / 195 lbs
Projected Draft Status: 2nd Round
NFL Comparison: Reggie Nelson
College Statistics
Player Overview
Marcus Williams is a rangy athlete. He has an increasingly rare combination of size, speed, ball skills, and football IQ that made him one of the best player makers in the country. In the pass-heavy PAC-12 Williams had a lot of opportunities to make an impact. He did that in coverage and in pursuit. Williams instincts shine at the FS position. He baits QB’s into throws and can cover the field from the single high spot. Williams is no slouch either against the run. He has solid tackling skills and makes an effort to pry the ball out of an opponent's grasp when given the opportunity. I would not be surprised at all if Williams snuck into the back of the 1st round and went to a team like the Falcons or Patriots.
Strengths
- Understands space and angles when playing deep. He is very instinctive and can see routes develop in front of him and make early breaks on the ball to make plays.
- Great athlete for the position. Has the range to cover sideline to sideline. Has the ability to go up and get it and come down with lobbed passes or 50/50 balls.
- Consistent and productive tackler.
Weaknesses
- Could stand to add more quality mass. Strength training could go up a notch as well. I saw him taken for a ride on a few tackles this season.
- Can be caught peaking by a smart QB and lured out of position.
Let’s see his work:
Marcus Williams, S, Utah -- showing some range. Can't really see in the video but he ran this down from centerfield #Redskins pic.twitter.com/KJfThaMm7A
— Emmanual Benton (@Manny_Benton) January 17, 2017
Top-graded safeties in college football
— PFF College Football (@PFF_College) January 16, 2017
Jamal Adams, LSU, 89.4
Nathan Gerry, Nebraska, 88.3
Marcus Williams, Utah, 88.2
Utah safety Marcus Williams has amazing feet and has the range to play the position in the NFL. Wish he finished more tackles though.
— Kevin Turner (@ktfuntweets) January 12, 2017
FEAST YOUR EYES @Utah_Football's Marcus Williams scores the @OpusBank #12Best Moment of the Week! pic.twitter.com/6k8PBWIm0H
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) October 10, 2016
"Utah's Marcus Williams can play centerfield & stop the run. His run stop percentage of 11.8 ranked No. 1 among FBS safeties"
— PFF College Football (@PFF_College) February 16, 2017
- @PFF_Jordan pic.twitter.com/J4OxIyp8XE
S Marcus Williams (Utah, 6'0", 195lbs). Unbelievable range + ball tracking @ FS, yet had the highest Safety Run Stop %. Baits QBs so well. pic.twitter.com/Pydmeq70lU
— My Colts Account (@MyColtsAccount) February 25, 2017
Has #Redskins going WR - John Ross (WA), RB - Kamara (TN), and Marcus Williams (#Utes). Ross has great speed and Williams has great range. https://t.co/6Lx7i1HdE9
— Andrew Crowley (@AJCrowley42) February 16, 2017
More Ball Skills and Range on display by Marcus Williams. Good job reading QB and tracking ball, making play thru contact pic.twitter.com/LAAz0rxmVs
— Kyle Morgan (@NoHuddleScouts) February 11, 2017
Marcus Williams awareness at GL to adjust coverage, but his timing with back to QB to make play on the ball is really good here pic.twitter.com/qAgQZjEStw
— Kyle Morgan (@NoHuddleScouts) February 11, 2017
They're not going to do that. Marcus Williams may be another good option though https://t.co/tyTA6VJ65E
— Emmanual Benton (@Manny_Benton) February 11, 2017
Marcus Williams: NFL size & football IQ, willing hitter, explosive athlete, tremendous centerfielder. Playmaker. Film & production are solid
— Jordan Plocher (@PFF_Jordan) February 6, 2017
The more I watch of FS Marcus Williams the more I'm convinced he'd be a great option for the #Bears in 2nd. Flat out playmaker.
— Aaron Leming (@AaronLemingNFL) January 30, 2017
How He Would Fit On The Redskins
Marcus Williams is NFL ready for the most part. Williams is the type of player you draft who can be solid for years and lock down the position allowing you to build around him. I’d love if the Skins pulled the trigger and selected him in the second. He will have some growing pains going against the improved competition but he seems like the type of kid who is up to the task and who learns from his mistakes. Where a player like Williams will help the Redskins most is if he continues to develop his already refined vision, coverage, and ball hawking ability. The Redskins will most likely need an influx of takeaways in their secondary to remain competitive in the division much less around the league. Williams can immediately help there and if he improves his already willing physicality he will be a force coming up to the LOS to defend the run as well.