Marcus Williams, the ball-hawking Utah safety with fantastic athletic ability, has been selected by the Saints with the 42nd pick in the 2017 NFL draft.
Do-it-all safety Marcus Williams brings versatility to Saints’ secondary
The former Ute knows how to fly to the football.
Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images
The former Utes safety totaled five interceptions in each of the last two seasons, ranking second among Pac-12 players in both 2015 and 2016. Williams has the playmaking instincts and physicality to thrive at the next level.
Why did the Saints pick Williams?
The free safety’s production speaks for itself. Williams was a playmaker throughout his collegiate career, totaling 11 total interceptions in three years. In 2016, the Utes finished the year with a 9-4 overall record, thanks in large part to Williams. One of the better run-stuffing safeties in this year’s draft class, Williams played a large part in Utah’s dominant defense which ranked 25th in rushing last year.
Ball-hawk
Williams’ prowess in the run game might be his most desirable asset — per Pro Football Focus, he had the highest run-stop percentage of all FBS safeties last year — but the safety’s interception numbers are hard to ignore.
The safety always seems to be in the right position, setting himself up for potential interception opportunities in coverage. But Williams also has the athleticism to deploy as a single-high or double-high safety and dart down to make plays on the ball when possible. He can high-point the ball with ease, showcasing his ridiculous vertical — he reached 43.5 inches at the Combine.
Instincts
The safety has exceptional awareness. Williams rarely gives up big plays. He’s a pretty sure tackler on the back end. There’s isn’t much he can’t do. Even though he’s a ball-hawk, the former Ute doesn’t really gamble much. He understands when it’s time to take a chance and when it’s time to play it safe.
Are there any concerns with Williams?
Williams is a sure tackler, but he’ll need to tack on some muscle before taking the field in 2017. The safety was sometimes dragged for additional yardage and took some punishment when making one-on-one tackles. He’s not a big hitter, which some teams prefer out of their safeties, and his lack of imposing strength certainly doesn’t help.
While he definitely relies on his instincts, he could grow in that area as well. Too often, the safety finds himself being manipulated by opposing quarterbacks’ eyes, shoulders and pump-fakes. Williams can also bite on play-action, which means he’ll need to be more disciplined to really thrive at the next level.
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