Maxx Williams of the Minnesota Golden Gophers has a chance to be the first tight end selected in the upcoming NFL Draft.
The 6-foot-4, 250-pound playmaker from Waconia is drawing a lot of buzz as he prepares to improve his draft stock at this week’s NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana.
https://twitter.com/williams_maxx/status/567179676099936257
According to the Daily Gopher, tight ends, offensive linemen, kickers and special teams players report to the Combine on Tuesday. The players will first go through a series of exams, X-Rays and interviews. On Wednesday they’ll go through more exams and get measured and weighed. Thursday will feature psychological testing, more interviews and a bench press test. Friday Williams will finally get on a football field for some on-field drills.
Williams is the No. 1 tight end on Mike Mayock’s big board for NFL Network.
Mayock says Maxx Williams is only TE possible in late 1st. Sees him as a second-rounder.
— Brian Hall (@MNBrianHall) February 16, 2015
NFL.com says Williams compares well to former tight end Jeremy Shockey. Here’s the full breakdown from NFL.com.
“Pass-catching, move tight end with straight-line play speed and an ability to stretch defenses deep. Williams comes from NFL bloodlines and has the self confidence often found in a former player’s son, but he needs to improve his route running in order to become a more complete receiving threat. Williams led all college tight ends with 9 explosive catches (25-plus yards) in 2014 and should be an early target for teams looking for pass-catching weapons.”
If Williams is drafted in the first round, he’ll join his father, Brian Williams, as a rare father-son first-round draftee combo, according longtime NFL scout Gil Brandt.
.@GopherFootball TE Maxx Williams has great chance at 1st round. Would join father Brian as rare 1st-round father-son duos.
— Gil Brandt (@Gil_Brandt) February 16, 2015
Brian Williams played center for the Gophers before being taken by the New York Giants with the 18th pick in the 1989 NFL Draft.
Fellow Gophers, running back David Cobb and lienbacker Damien Wilson, who are cousins, are also at the Combine. The duo joined NFL Network last week to talk about who they think they can be in the NFL.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7GU3J_1vdw
Cobb, projected to go in the middle rounds of the draft, told the Star Tribune that he’s already been contacted by four or five teams. Wilson added that it’s “pretty sweet” he’ll have an opportunity to “strut his stuff” at the Combine.
