Name: Jamaal Williams
Position: Running Back
School: BYU
Class: Senior
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 215lbs
Film reviewed: Michigan State 2016, Mississippi State 2016, Utah 2016, and West Virginia 2016
Overview: Jamaal is a mid-round RB with a high ceiling. He is a physical north-south style runner who has a track record of production. Red flags are apparent with a “serious right knee injury” which required surgery and ended his 2014 campaign. Jamaal left the team in 2015 following undisclosed honor code violations. He also has a past arrest for underage drinking.
Strengths: As mentioned Jamaal is a physical runner who will plant his foot and accelerate through a hole with tremendous burst. He is a large RB and deceptively smooth athlete. Despite his size he has quick feet and able to change direction with ease. Jamaal is not afraid of contact as he will break arm tackles, excels with yards after contact, and finishes run by continuing to churn his legs. He is more quick than fast with good but not great straight line speed. His vision is excellent and is a mature runner as he waits for holes to develop. A great interior runner with the ability to bounce the play outside. He appears to have found a new level of personal maturity after returning to the team. Jamaal seems to have committed himself to football an is a student of the game.
Weaknesses: Jamaal has an upright running posture and uses his size to dominate smaller defenders. He must lower his pad level through holes in the NFL. Very little pass catching experience. Route running is sloppy and hands appear average. As with most college running backs his pass protection is underwhelming. He struggles to find a block and when engaged stands too tall. He will win some pass blocking battles due to aggression not technique.
Conclusion: Jamaal is a excellent mid-round RB prospect who presents a team with tremendous draft value. He has the potential to develop into a franchise caliber RB. His past injury and character issues are of concern. However, he returned to BYU in 2016 and became a team captain. He received praise from coaches for his new maturity. Due to the depth of the 2016 RB class he could fall.
Value: 3rd Round
Projection: 4th – 5th Round