Scouting Report: You look up potential, and you will see Damian Williams picture. He has tremendous ball skills, and great leaping ability. He is fearless in whatever route he runs, and will go to battle for the catch. He's more field fast than he is track fast, and is pretty elusive in the open field. There is a lot to love about Williams game, particularly when you consider just how polished he is for a player that young. He's an exceptional route runner. He does a nice job working vacant areas in the zone, but really does a nice job beating defenders off the jam, swallowing up cushion in man, and whether he gets separation or not, uses his body control to get the football. He'll never be the kind of wide out who gets tremendous separation and won't run away from the fastest defensive backs in the league, and will also need to improve as a run blocker. With the recent problems USC wide outs have had with their timed speed, if Williams can't burn up the track, the comparisons will come. And he also has a shoulder injury that will need to be green lighted to ease some concerns.
Draft Status: I think the tremendous upside that Williams has will put him in the first round if he declares. But I don't think he can do enough to pass Dez Bryant who has better speed and far more experience, or Golden Tate should he declare, because of Tate's superior quickness and speed. A lot will hinge on that dreaded 40 time, and if he can't break 4.5, he could slide to the early 2nd round.
Final Analysis: I am not among those swooning over Williams. Seems to me he's getting a pass for what is mediocre production, on the talent around him, but if you want to be considered an elite prospect, you elevate those around you, you don't let them bring you down. And I am very curious to see just how tall Williams is. Some plays he looks 6-2 and others much shorter. I think Williams has a lot of upside, and if he can become more consistent and work harder on breaking corners down better, along with becoming more efficient in his play, he could end up a productive, but not elite player. I think his ceiling is lower than others but admittedly that's got something to do with the problems other USC wide outs have had.
Reminds me of: Torry Holt, WR Jacksonville Jaguars-Didn't have elite size or speed, but worked hard for the football and a truly elite route runner. The two compare favorably in a lot of ways.
