Background
This is the official scouting report for Jameson Williams, a wide receiver for the Alabama Crimson Tide and an ascending upcoming prospect in this year’s 2022 NFL Draft. Hailing from Cardinal Ritter College Prep in St. Louis, Missouri, Williams was a player that always proved to make a positive impact on whatever team he was on. In his senior year at Cardinal Ritter, Williams caught 68 passes for 1,626 receiving yards and 22 touchdowns.
Along with excellent production on the football field, Williams was also an effective track star. Williams currently holds the state record in the 300 meter hurdle and won two state track and field titles during his accomplished high school career.
Collegiate Career
Williams would prove that he was not just a highly regarded prospect in his state, but also in the country. Coming in as a consensus 4-star prospect among all major recruiting platforms, Williams received offers from schools such as Ohio State, Alabama, Auburn, and Arkansas. When it came time to pick a school, Williams would choose the Ohio State Buckeyes.
While Williams would experience universal success from the Ohio State program, his individual production was not something Williams was satisfied with. Through two seasons at Ohio State, Williams combined for 15 catches, 266 yards, and three touchdowns. After the 2020 season concluded, Williams decided to take his talents to the transfer portal.
Enter Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide, who saw Williams’ true potential. Looking for a vertical presence within their offense to aid emerging quarterback Bryce Young, Williams found a role that benefited his play style. Similarly, Jameson was afforded a starting opportunity he would make the most of. Williams would end the season with 79 receptions, 1,572 yards, and 15 touchdowns. As a result, Williams declared for the 2022 NFL Draft with first round level potential.
Jameson Williams Scouting Report
Positives
- Great vertical takeoff and build up speed to consistently blow past cornerbacks and flat-footed safeties in zone coverage, specifically on deep passing concepts. Williams is at his best when he is able to vertically push deep safeties.
- Very good short area burst and acceleration after the catch to elude and maximize yardage against underneath defenders. This ability was frequently shown on designed screen concepts.
- Blistering open field speed when catching crossing, slant, and over routes on the move. His ability to generate substantial ground and yardage after the catch erases angles for oncoming defenders. He is a threat to score anytime he catches on the move in the open field.
- Additionally utilizes his track-like speed on kickoff and punt team coverage, and is often around the ball looking to make an impact. Williams’ willingness and competitiveness on special teams will be valuable to coaches at the next level.
- Displayed additional value as kick returner with a two touchdown performance over Southern Miss.
Negatives
- Struggles to maintain focus and composure at the catch point in traffic. Due to Williams’ long and slender frame, physical cornerbacks and safeties are able to overwhelm him with their play strength. This had led to many incomplete passes in contested catch situations.
- Inconsistent technique catching passes, as he frequently allows balls to enter his chest rather than attacking and plucking the front point of the football.
- Limited separation against press man coverage at the line of scrimmage. Williams currently lacks the nuance and diversity in his release package to deceptively separate past fundamentally sound press-man cornerbacks. This was evident when he was deployed against Florida cornerback Kaiir Elam in 2021.
- Suffered a torn ACL in the 2022 National Championship game against Georgia.
Games Watched
Florida (2021), LSU (2021), Georgia (2021, Conference Championship Game)
Scheme Fit
Williams’ ideal fit is at the slot or Z receiver position in a vertical spread passing attack. This allows him to manufacture touches and free releases from bunch or condensed formations in order to maximize his vertical speed and avoid physical encounters off the line of scrimmage.
Grade
Late 1st Round
Player Comparison
Will Fuller V
