2021 NFL Draft Notebook: Isaiah Wilson trade, Pooka Williams, Kyle Pitts and much more
By John Blair
Pooka Williams turning heads at Pro Day
A player that had a strong Pro Day is Kansas running back Pooka Williams Jr. According to Pro Football Focus, Williams ran a blistering 4.38 40-yard dash and the 3-cone drill in 7.02 seconds. Both of these numbers would have ranked among the top five running backs at the 2020 NFL Combine, as he would have had the fastest 40-yard dash and the fifth-best 3-cone time. One negative from his pro day was he was only able to get four reps on the bench press.
At his Pro Day, Williams did position drills at running back and wide receiver and a position switch to receiver might make the most sense for him. This is due to him lacking the size to play running back in the NFL coming in at only 5-foot-9 and 175 pounds. He also lacks the strength to break tackles evident by both his game film and him only putting up four reps on the bench press.
As a receiver, Williams would add a dynamic piece to any team’s passing game. He shows great acceleration as a runner and his testing numbers back this up. This acceleration would come in handy when it comes to getting in out of his breaks on his route. He also has proved he has solid hands catching 66 passes during his college career. His open-field running skills are yet another reason he would make sense as a slot receiver, as he is a major threat to pick up yards after the catch.
The teams that have been showing the most interest in Williams include the San Francisco 49ers, Chicago Bears and New Orleans Saints. It would not be a shock if one of these teams took Williams in the sixth or seventh round of the 2021 NFL Draft.