USC 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.
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