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The Green Bay Packers have selected BYU Cougars running back Jamaal Williams with the 134th pick (4th Round) of the 2017 NFL Draft. With the selection, Williams becomes the highest Cougar running back taken in the NFL Draft in over 40 years.
Williams was a force at running back during his four seasons with the Cougars despite some injury struggles. He leaves BYU with his name all over the school’s record book as the leader in career rushing yards (3,901), rushing yards in a single game (286), points scored in a single game (30), and touchdowns scored in a single game (5). Over his BYU career, Williams averages 5.4 yards per carry and rushed for 35 touchdowns. He also caught 60 passes for 567 yards and a touchdown.
Williams has the size (6-foot-0, 212 pounds) all the tools to be a successful back in the NFL. He is a strong, physical back with the ability to break tackles and pile up yards after contact. He was among the best at forcing missed tackles in college football last season (55) despite missing some games due to an ankle injury. Williams has good balance as a runner, excellent ball security, and is solid at blitz pickup.
Here are Williams’ NFL Combine numbers:
- 40-yard dash - 4.59 seconds
- 225 bench - Did not participate
- Vertical jump - 30 inches
- Broad jump - 10-foot-3
- 20-yard shuttle - 4.53 seconds
- 3-cone drill - 7.25 seconds
And Williams’ Pro Day results:
- 40-yard dash - 4.53 seconds
- 225 bench - 18 reps
- Vertical jump - 33 inches
- Broad jump - Did not participate
- 20-yard shuttle - 4.26 seconds
- 3-cone drill - 7.12 seconds
With the depth of this year’s running back class, Jamaal may have slid a little further back in the draft than some may have expected. Don’t sleep on Williams though, he has the skills to contribute to a team right away and could end up being one of the steals of this season’s Draft.
Here are Williams’ career highlights: