100 in 100: Damian Williams (25 of 100)
by Drew Kerr on Feb 5, 2010 1:00 PM PST
in 100 in 100 (2010)
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PrintUSC has produced a bunch of NFL caliber talent. Damian Williams happens to be in that group. Williams led the Trojans in receiving this year and was Freshman Quarterback Matt Barkley's favorite target. The Senior Wide Receiver could very well be the second receiver off the board behind current number one ranked Wide Receiver Dez Bryant.
In 2006 as a Freshman, and originally playing for the Arkansas Razorbacks, Williams did not get a whole lot of playing time due to Darren McFadden being there. However, when he was in the game, he showed flashes of brilliance. In 2007 Williams transfered to The University of Southern California where he would have the opportunity to get more passes thrown his way. Because of the NCAA rules that players who transfer have to sit a year before playing, Williams missed the 2007 Season. In 2008, Williams emerged as one of the top receivers in the Nation. He had 9 TD's in that season and was one of current NFL Quarterback Mark Sanchez's favorite recevier's. By 2009 Williams went over 100 Yards for the first time in his collegiate career. He was Freshman Quarterback Matt Barkley's number one target and caught the ball 70 Times. He capped off his collegiate career with a 12 catch, 189 Yard game in this year's Emerald Bowl.
If Dez Bryant would have stayed another year at Oklahoma State, Williams could have very well been the top rated Receiver coming out. His route running is crisp and ironed and his ability to break zone coverages is well above average. The one concern on Williams is that he sometimes loses focus. His awareness sometimes gets lost and he starts thinking about the run after the catch before he has the ball. This is something that can be fine tuned at the next level and I look for Williams to be a top Receiver eventually in the NFL.
Below, we'll take a look at Williams' highlights, stats, awards and honors, as well as some projections...
In this video, you see that the Trojans Coaching Staff used Williams on a lot of bubble screens which illustrates that they had alot of faith in his run-after-the-catch abilities. He also showcases his instincts in the punt return.
AWARDS AND HONORS:
- 2008 Sophomore All-American Honorable Mention
- 2009 First-Team All-Pac 10
- 2009 Punt Return Trophy Recipient
CAREER STATS:
| Stats Overview | Receiving | Rushing | Fumbles | |||||||||
| YEAR | REC | YDS | AVG | LNG | TD | ATT | YDS | AVG | LNG | TD | FUM | LST |
| 2006 | 19 | 235 | 12.4 | 46 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 5.0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2008 | 58 | 869 | 15.0 | 35 | 9 | 4 | 43 | 10.8 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009 | 70 | 1010 | 14.4 | 75 | 6 | 2 | 16 | 8.0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009 Regular Season Game Log | Receiving | Rushing | Fumbles | |||||||||||||
| DATE | OPP | RESULT | REC | YDS | AVG | LNG | TD | ATT | YDS | AVG | LNG | TD | FUM | LST | ||
| 9/5 | San Jose State | W 56-3 | 3 | 67 | 22.3 | 33 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 9/12 | @Ohio State | W 18-15 | 5 | 51 | 10.2 | 18 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 7.0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 9/19 | @Washington | L 16-13 | 3 | 40 | 13.3 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 9/26 | Washington State | W 27-6 | 5 | 100 | 20.0 | 57 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 10/3 | @California | W 30-3 | 8 | 101 | 12.6 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 10/17 | @Notre Dame | W 34-27 | 4 | 108 | 27.0 | 41 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 9.0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 10/24 | Oregon State | W 42-36 | 6 | 58 | 9.7 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 10/31 | @Oregon | L 47-20 | 9 | 82 | 9.1 | 21 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 11/7 | @Arizona State | W 14-9 | 2 | 81 | 40.5 | 75 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 11/14 | Stanford | L 55-21 | Did Not Play or did not accumulate any stats. | |||||||||||||
| 11/28 | UCLA | W 28-7 | 5 | 82 | 16.4 | 48 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 12/5 | Arizona | L 21-17 | 8 | 51 | 6.4 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2009 Postseason Game Log | Receiving | Rushing | Fumbles | |||||||||||
| BOWL | OPP | RESULT | REC | YDS | AVG | LNG | TD | ATT | YDS | AVG | LNG | TD | FUM | LST |
| EMERALD BOWL | Boston College | W 24-13 | 12 | 189 | 15.8 | 48 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
SUMMARY AND PROJECTIONS:
Williams should be selected in the 1st Round. It's my belief that 1st Round talent should be selected in the 1st Round but it doesn't always work out like that. I don't think he is top 10 Talent but there are certain teams like the Ravens and Cowboys that could use the help at that position. He is 6'1" 195 LBS.
Possibilities -- 1st Round; Picks 11-32.
For more 100 in 100 articles follow the link We are a quarter of the way through now):
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how tall is he again?
Or did I miss that
"If I were to walk down a dark alley in a bad part of town, I'd want Ray Brown with me. And if I were to have a nice dinner at a fine restaurant, I'd want Ray Brown with me." The Late Great McKittrick
by Tre9er on Feb 5, 2010 1:27 PM PST via mobile reply actions
He's obviously got great ability to get YAC
is there a reason his per game catches are so low? Does he not get open, does he drop balls? How much of a concern is that?
Yes Drew K, Tim Tebow will probably get picked in the first round.
True freshman QB.
Everyone gushed over Barkley, but the reality was that he did well for a Freshman QB, which is pretty subpar overall.
by microwave donut on Feb 5, 2010 2:08 PM PST up reply actions
What do you mean “per game catches”? 12 Games- 70 Catches = That’s nearly 6 Catches a game. Dez Bryant in his best year last year (which was phenominal for college football) only had a catch more on average per game. There were only 7 guys this year that had 100+ catches this season and all of those guys are coming out of the small conferences. There are other factors as well such as what microwave donuts mentions as well as other talent on the team. 70 Catches in a season is actually pretty high with all the factors involved.
The Tim Tebow Story "A Bust In The Making" ...Part 2 Coming After The Draft...Stay Tuned.
It's because he had some games with 8 or 9 catches
and some with 2 or 3
Yes Drew K, Tim Tebow will probably get picked in the first round.
I saw all the USC games this year.
He gets open very frequently but Barkley was always checking down.
A lot of his routes were deep routes and Barkley seems to like to get rid of the ball quickly…
I thought he had better chemistry with Sanchez.
What we've got here is a failure to communicate.
by SportsChicken on Feb 5, 2010 10:35 PM PST up reply actions
True freshman QB
He also lost a lot of targets to Anthony McCoy (TE).
He had an average of 6 catches per game though…that’s pretty good.
Most of the time teams would just try to bracket Williams and force Barkley to check down.
What we've got here is a failure to communicate.
by SportsChicken on Feb 5, 2010 10:33 PM PST up reply actions
No top end speed
I don’t see him adjusting to any of these passes.. incomplete grade
U$C Carroll product, most likely the reason for his production
but doesn’t shy away from big plays
~ High risk, #2 WR ceiling
Would have liked to see another year.
1.Trent Williams 1.Brandon Graham 2. Syd Thompson 3.Torell Troup 4.Andrew Quarless 5.John Jerry 6.Mike Kafka 7.Quinton Andrews 7.Preston Parker
I don’t see how he’s a high risk prospect.
He’s the most polished WR coming out this year.
His route running is the best in this year’s class….
I think he can easily be a No.1 WR because of his ability to get open so easily.
He reminds me of Mason in Baltimore (his hands aren’t as good as Mason’s though).
What we've got here is a failure to communicate.
by SportsChicken on Feb 5, 2010 10:41 PM PST up reply actions
This is why I said another year
Carroll’s known for always finding a way to get his most dangerous WRs open, not too much film catching difficult passes, vs Thompson he could only get open when USC ran screens, vs Verner there aren’t any highlights of him and Williams
Mason in his prime? or Mason now?
1.Trent Williams 1.Brandon Graham 2. Syd Thompson 3.Torell Troup 4.Andrew Quarless 5.John Jerry 6.Mike Kafka 7.Quinton Andrews 7.Preston Parker
I doubt he gets past the Jets. The team is desperate to surround Sanchez with targets and if Sanchez gives his former teammate his blessing it’s a done deal. Outside interior defensive linemen, WR is their biggest priority.
I think he'll be gone by then.
Perhaps they’ll try to move up?
Sanchez and Williams were kicking [site decorum] near the end of the 2008 season.
What we've got here is a failure to communicate.
by SportsChicken on Feb 5, 2010 10:42 PM PST up reply actions
Run after catch ability
He does appear to be relied on mainly for that. He’s not a burner from what I can see. For that I agree he won’t go all that early in the 1st round. Wouldn’t be surprised if he even falls to the 2nd. Our receivers are pretty similar IMO, so I can’t see us considering him unless he were to drop past the 1st or maybe 2nd round. Don’t think that will happen though.
Greg Jennings isn't a burner either
Honestly feel that Jennings is a really good comp for Williams. I agree that Williams doesn’t have great breakaway speed, but I also think that he’s got really good quickness and route running that he should still be able to get over the top of defenses. As an USC fan there were a couple of times that if Barkley had thrown the ball better Williams probably would have gotten 6. One other thing you have to like about him though is that he is a willing blocker in the run game and has done a pretty decent job while at SC
That said, I agree with Drew K that he probably won’t go in the first (too much DL talent and lack of depth on the OL causing teams to reach), but that the high second round is probably about right. Potential wise I think he could end up being a number decent number 1 receiver or a great number 2 receiver depending on the system.
Like Steve Smith of the Giants - a No. 2
USC receiver with solid route running. Medium top end speed. Football smarts. A bit smoother than Smith. Hands not as sure. Will be fine as a No. 2 for a team that needs one. But not the Niners.
I want winners!!
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