2022 NFL Draft Prospects to Watch: Alabama vs. Georgia
Alabama WR Jameson Williams
The University of Alabama has consistently churned out great wide receivers this past decade. The most recent four to come out of Tuscaloosa were all taken in the first round, Devonta Smith, Jaylen Waddle, Henry Ruggs and Jerry Jeudy. Amari Cooper and Julio Jones were also both selected in the top 10 of the NFL Draft in the last ten years.
Coming into the year many tabbed John Metchie III as the next great Alabama receiver, and he’ll likely be selected in the first few rounds of the 2022 NFL Draft. But the star wide receiver for Alabama this year has been the St. Louis native Jameson Williams.
Williams played two seasons at Ohio State and then transferred to Alabama prior to this season. He’s a young junior, as he won’t turn 21 until March 26th, 2002. The size (6’2” 189), and speed (he holds the state record for the 300-meter hurdles and has a projected 40-yard dash time of 4.32) of Jameson Williams make him a tantalizing prospect looking ahead to the 2022 NFL Draft.
Statistically, there aren’t many receivers in the country that are better than Jameson Williams. He’s one of only 10 players in all of college football to average 20 yards per catch (20.7) and he’s tied for second in the country in receiving touchdowns (13). He’s also 9th in the country in total receiving yards with 1,261. Williams is dynamic before and after the catch as evidenced by his bevy of long touchdowns this year.
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Jameson Williams’ tools and skill set are what really intrigue 2022 NFL Draft scouts. His speed is undeniable, and he uses his long legs to cover ground quickly. Williams is what some scouts call a “two-stepper” which is when a player can cover 5 yards while running in two steps. Williams’ size doesn’t negatively impact his fluidity, however. He can and has run crisp, technical routes, sinking his hips at the top of the route, and setting up defensive backs skillfully to create separation.
Because of the speed of Jameson Williams, he’s often able to get open on comeback routes, where he sprints downfield, stops, and comes back to the quarterback. On film, Williams was adept at working back towards the quarterback on such routes, cutting down the distance that the pass needs to travel. These technical skills as well as Jameson Williams’ hands, deep threat potential, and red zone efficiency could see him selected in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft.