No defense is safe from Alabama WR Jameson Williams, an NFL Draft prospect with a blazing 40 and a penchant for pushing cornerbacks to their limit. Williams has been one of the most dynamic receivers in college football, but the question remains: Can he be a first-round pick? The short answer is yes — but short answers are boring. Let’s go long, as Williams does each Saturday.
Is Jameson Williams a first-round pick in 2022?
Williams has no doubt worked his way into first-round territory with his play in 2021. He was always expected to have a bright future, but the junior’s breakout came a bit later than anticipated.
Williams — a high school track star and state record holder in the 300-meter hurdles — signed with Ohio State out of Cardinal Ritter College Prep. At the time, it was a sensible decision for Williams to join a known wide receiver factory in Columbus. But the school’s reputation soon began to work against Williams.
Talented wide receivers flocked to Ohio State in the two ensuing years, and Williams eventually found himself buried on the depth chart. So Williams made another sensible decision and entered the transfer portal. When the Alabama Crimson Tide came calling, the choice was easy. And so far, it’s been a perfect marriage.
Catching passes from Heisman-winner Bryce Young, Williams has been an electric deep threat this year. Ahead of the playoffs and a potential National Championship game appearance, Williams has 1,445 yards and 15 touchdowns on 68 receptions — averaging 21.3 yards a pop. As you might expect, speed is a central part of Williams’ game.
Jameson Williams’ 40-yard dash time
There’s no concrete figure for Williams’ 40-yard dash time. But it’s clear watching the tape that you have to start at 4.4 and work your way down. In high school, when athletes are still developing physically, Williams was already running a 4.4 flat, and he also had a 33.5-inch vertical.
Since then, you could argue Williams has gotten even faster. We won’t have a concrete number until pre-draft testing occurs, but Williams could very well have low-4.3 speed. He’s an instant accelerator, and when he has open spaces, he can flip the field quickly on unsuspecting defenders.
Williams’ quantified speed alone is exciting, but his type of speed is also unique. Many pass catchers who center their games on speed have shorter, more frantic strides when running. Williams is different. At 6’2″, 189 pounds, Williams is long and lanky, and his strides follow suit. Each stride for Williams covers lots of ground, and those fast, long strides allow him to glide downfield with ruthless efficiency.
It’s not something that can be adequately described in words. So let me show you instead.
Jameson Williams’ rare 40 speed visible on tape
Here’s a visual representation of Williams’ speed, from his 2-touchdown performance against the Georgia Bulldogs in the SEC Championship game.
Here, Williams simply sneaks into the middle of the field on an intermediate crosser route. Young gets the ball to him in stride, and Williams does the rest. You can see how quickly and effortlessly he accelerates with his long strides after the catch. That acceleration and top-end speed can destroy tackling angles for defensive backs, as it did here.
Here’s another example of Williams’ blistering speed. Williams lines up in a bunched formation on this play. He’s off-set with the cornerback, and right away, he has the advantage. Williams’ immediate and drastic acceleration makes him virtually impossible to match once he gets displacement. You see that here, as Williams quickly turns a mere step on the defender into complete separation.
The route takes Williams toward the sideline and potentially boxes him in against the looming safety. But his speed once again destroys the tackling angle here. Even with defenders over top, Williams is a home run threat who consistently generates big plays.
Williams brings more to the table than just speed
Simply having his speed at his size makes Williams a special player. But beyond that, Williams has also shown he can utilize crisp releases, throttle control, and loose hips to manipulate defenders. On his second touchdown against Georgia, this throttle control was on full display.
Williams starts off the rep with a quick release, aimed at creating displacement between himself and the defender. Once he does that, Williams has the speed to get a step on his man. But the rep isn’t finished yet. Williams suddenly chops his feet and decelerates 15 yards downfield. That move baited the cornerback and the safety into slowing down, perhaps anticipating a route break. But the moment they did, Williams instantly ramped up to full speed and rocketed downfield.
Williams obviously doesn’t complete this rep without his game-breaking speed. But what truly makes this play is Williams’ smooth manipulation and throttle control. He can decelerate and accelerate at a moment’s notice. And with these calculated micro-movements, he can put defenders on a string and open up opportunities to capitalize with his speed.
With his explosiveness and loose hips, Williams has immense route running potential as well. He’s still developing here, but he’s clearly aware of how he can manipulate defensive backs and generate separation. Here’s a small example from the Georgia game. Williams executes a smooth rocker step to freeze the defensive back, then sinks his hips and suddenly breaks inside.
Williams still has a ways to go before he’s an elite technician, but reps like these show he has immense potential in that department. He can create separation in other ways beyond pure speed. And that’s what makes his profile so exciting.
Jameson Williams is a first-round prospect in the NFL Draft
Williams’ speed is what draws the most attention. But the Alabama WR has the makings of a complete receiver beyond that. He’s visibly developing as a route runner, and he also has ability at the catch point. His length gives him a strong catch radius, and he’s also displayed great ball-tracking ability and body control. That complete WR1 potential was referenced in Williams’ 2022 NFL Draft scouting report:
Beyond his speed and explosiveness, Williams has the makings of a complete NFL wide receiver. He has loose, flexible hips that can sink with ease on route-running reps. He’s an incredibly twitchy player who can generate displacement off quick, subtle movements. And at the catch point, Williams has great hands, focus, and instincts.
There are still areas where Williams can improve. As mentioned, he’s not yet an elite route runner. He can expand his route tree and employ deception with greater consistency. Additionally, his hands — while very good — can still be a bit stronger at the catch point. There are times when he positions himself well with body control but fails to capitalize.
Nevertheless, no prospect is perfect. You grade prospects based on their abilities and their projective upside. Taking those factors into account, one could make the case that Williams isn’t just a first-round receiver, but also the WR1. He may have the highest ceiling in his class. And fittingly, he’s rising toward his ceiling with the same quickness he shows on the field.