2013 NFL Draft Profile – Vince Williams ( ILB – Florida State )

Chief Concerns: Desmond Bailey (@CCWriterDez )

Prospect Name: Vince Williams
School: Florida State
Pos: ILB
Year: Senior
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 250
Projected Round: Late 4th – Mid 6th

Overview

• +50 tackles in last two seasons
• Two-year starter for the Noles
• Honorable Mention All-ACC (2012)
• Voted Team Captain (2012)
• Won team Defensive Leadership Award (2012)

Strengths

• Great instincts, quick to diagnose plays and attack the right gaps
• Disciplined…Rarely takes false steps…moves with violent certainty
• Good form tackler…sinks hips…explodes through…wraps up
• Exhibits strength and power to take on OL and stun them
• Good blitzer but wasn’t utilized much as a pass rusher
• Underrated sideline-to-sideline speed and range
• Fiery….gets the whole defense pumped when he makes plays

Weaknesses

• Can be a liability in man coverage…wasn’t on the field much in obvious passing situations
• Has a tendency to be too aggressive and over-pursue at times
• Needs to work on shedding blocks…getting through the “trash” in heavy traffic
• Lacks prototypical height for the position
• Only two years of starting experience
• Redshirted  2009 with back injury

Final Thoughts

Williams was fairly productive in Florida State’s 4-3 but his most ideal fit in the NFL will be as a 3-4 inside backer where a team will benefit greatly from his exceptional abilities as a run stuffer. He is an infectious leader with an upfield, attack and destroy type mentality that enables him to run through blockers – Olinemen and fullbacks alike – en route to ballcarriers. His inconsistencies in pass coverage are preventing him from being mentioned amongst 2013′s top linebacker prospects but he showed improvement in this area throughout the week at Senior Bowl practices back in January.

With no invite to the NFL Combine, Williams will have to do everything at FSU’s Pro Day next week on the March 19th. It’s a great opportunity to improve his stock before the draft. His upper body strength and short area burst/quickness are apparent on film. He’s a powerful, explosive player and this should show in his bench press and short shuttle times.

Williams is one of my favorite prospects in the draft because of the way he plays the game. He’s athletic, sound fundamentally, smart, hits hard as hell, and is a fearless leader who plays the game with a passion you won’t see in the prospects ranked ahead of him.

The Chiefs have a need at inside linebacker at both the starting position next to Pro Bowler Derrick Johnson and depth in general.  In Kansas City, Williams could excel in Bob Sutton‘s defense as he would be turned loose to wreak havoc  vs. the run and as a blitzer while continuing to improve in pass coverage. Hopefully the Chiefs give Williams some strong consideration on day-3 of the draft.