In a deeply talented pass-catching 2021 NFL Draft class, UCF wide receiver Marlon Williams offers an intriguing big-play threat. What does he bring to the table, and where could he land in the NFL?
Marlon Williams NFL Draft Profile
- Position: Wide Receiver
- School: Central Florida
- Current Year: Senior
- Height: 5’11 1/4″
- Weight: 209 pounds
Tony Pauline’s Marlon Williams Scouting Report
Positives: First-year starter coming off a career season. Reliable possession receiver who is polished in all aspects of the position. Displays good awareness, knows where he is on the field, and uses the sidelines well. Consistent hands catcher who snatches the ball away from his frame. Quickly releases off the line of scrimmage, tracks the pass in the air, and gets vertical for nicely timed receptions.
Contorts or adjusts to the errant throw, competes to come away with the tough catch, and plays with balance. Possesses good vision, finds the open space in the defense, and exposes himself to the big hit in order to come away with the catch. Effective blocker who gives effort.
Featured | NFL Draft Prospects 2021: Pauline’s updated big board, player rankings
Negatives: Plays to one speed and lacks a deep burst as well as a second gear. Not very tall for a possession receiver.
Analysis: Williams has cemented himself as a Day 3 pick after two productive seasons at Central Florida. He’s a consistent pass catcher with speed and height limitations and is best suited for a timing offense.
Marlon Williams Player Profile
Following the success of Gabriel Davis as an NFL rookie, Marlon Williams is the next UCF wide receiver to head to the NFL Draft. He does so with a history of success and production dating all the way back to his high school career. The Mobile, Alabama, native played his high school football at McGill-Toolen High School, and the Yellow Jackets were Class 7A State Champions in his junior year.
As a senior, Williams put together an impressive season. He snagged 47 catches for 990 yards while contributing 7 rushing touchdowns as a Wildcat quarterback. A versatile offensive weapon, he helped guide McGill-Toolen to another State Championship appearance, unfortunately coming up short of another title.
Williams had garnered recruiting attention early in his high school career. A three-star high school prospect, Williams was ranked as the 20th best player in Alabama. Early in the process, he committed to USC.
Later on in the process, however, he rescinded his commitment and re-opened up his recruitment. Although he stated that he wanted to play in the SEC, he ultimately chose to become a wide receiver at UCF over offers from LSU, Ole Miss, and Tennessee.
Marlon Williams’ college football career at UCF
UCF appeared to give him the better option to fulfill his other recruiting criteria. Above all, that was to play in his first year and in an offense that liked to air it out.
As a freshman in 2017, he appeared in 12 games and scored his first career touchdown against UConn. Although he’d register just over 500 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns in his first two years, he provided as a big-play threat while showing versatility as a kick returner.
Featured | Cummings’ 3-round 2021 NFL Mock Draft
Williams emerged as a prominent part of the UCF offense as a junior in 2019. He made seven starts while finishing the year with the second-most receptions on the team (51), third-most receiving yards (717), and touchdowns (6). Once again demonstrating his big-play threat, and ability to make plays after the catch, Williams had the UCF’s longest receiving touchdown with a 75-yard score against Marshall. Additionally, he had a 73-yard touchdown against Temple.
An All-AAC First Team honoree as a senior in 2020, the UCF wide receiver ended his college career in style. He led the team in receiving yards (1,039) and touchdowns (10) as their most valuable offensive contributor.
In his final season, he set a career-high 191 receiving yards against Memphis. Impressively, he secured 100+ yard games in five of his eight appearances. In addition, Williams demonstrated his playmaking skills with the fourth-most yards after the catch of all college football wide receivers.
After missing the final regular game of the season, UCF wide receiver Marlon Williams announced his decision to declare for the 2021 NFL Draft.
Marlon Williams’ best fits in the 2021 NFL Draft
How does productive UCF wide receiver Marlon Williams fit in the 2021 NFL Draft? Although he is 6’0″ and 215 pounds, he played the majority of his snaps out of the slot at UCF. He projects to play a “big slot” role in the NFL where his size and catch ability make him a dangerous threat in the middle of the field. Additionally, he offers some versatility as a kick returner and could even be called upon as a gadget player due to his experience as a wildcat quarterback.
It may be a deep wide receiver class in the 2021 NFL Draft, but UCF wide receiver Marlon Williams could fit a need for multiple teams. For example, the Chicago Bears, New York Giants, and Baltimore Ravens, would all provide a good fit for his skillset.
Want more 2021 NFL Draft prospect news? Want to do your own mock draft?
Dive into PFN’s Free NFL Mock Draft Simulator and test your own drafting acumen. Continue to visit Pro Football Network for NFL news and in-depth analysis. Also, be sure to follow us on Twitter (@PFN365) to stay in the loop on all things college football and the NFL Draft landscape.
Oliver Hodgkinson is a staff writer for Pro Football Network. You can follow him on Twitter at @ojhodgkinson.